Are You Managing Projects or Just Getting Things Done?

Let’s be honest: we’ve all had one of those days where we answer emails, attend three meetings, update a spreadsheet, rescue a printer from the brink of annihilation... and somehow still have no idea what we actually achieved.

If that sounds familiar, you might be getting things done—but are you really managing a project?

The Great To-Do List Illusion

Ticking things off a list feels good. Heck, some of us even write things down just to cross them off (no judgement—I’ve done it). But busy ≠ effective.

Managing a project means doing the right things, not just doing things.

So here’s a quick quiz. If you answer “yes” to most of these, we may need to talk...

🧩 1. Do you start projects by winging it?

No plan? No problem! We’ll figure it out as we go… right?
Spoiler: That’s not a plan. That’s improv. And unless you’re a jazz musician or a stand-up comic, it’s a dangerous way to run a project.

🕵️ 2. Does your team find out what the goal is halfway through?

“Ohhh… this was for the client? I thought this was just an experiment.”
Managing a project means making sure everyone knows why they’re doing what they’re doing, from Day One.

🪄 3. Do deadlines appear magically… and then vanish without warning?

Sometimes we treat deadlines like pirates treat the code: more like guidelines than actual rules.
A managed project has clear timelines—not just vibes and wishful thinking.

🧃 4. Are your status updates based on a gut feeling and a smoothie-fuelled hunch?

Project Manager: “I think we’re on track.”
Boss: “Based on what?”
Project Manager: “Based on... a sense of calm in my soul.”
Look, intuition is great. But when the pressure’s on, real tracking beats hopeful guesswork.

🧙‍♀️ 5. Do problems magically disappear when ignored? (No, they don’t.)

If you’ve ever whispered “maybe it’ll sort itself out” to a risk or issue, congratulations—you’ve met denial, the unofficial project sponsor.
Real project management involves anticipating problems and tackling them before they become the star of next week’s crisis meeting.

So… What’s the Difference?

Getting things done = action without alignment.
Managing a project = purposeful progress toward a defined goal, with planning, roles, risks, and controls in place.

In other words:
🎯 Getting things done is great.
📈 Getting the right things done, at the right time, with the right people? That’s management.

TL;DR^*:

If your “project” is mostly vibes, sticky notes, and pure hustle… you’re getting things done.
If it has structure, ownership, and actual checkpoints… congratulations, you’re managing a project!