As a leader, how much of a project’s success can you influence?

Our reader poll today asks: As a leader, how much of a project’s success or failure can you influence?

– I can affect every aspect of a project, and I’m a big factor in its success or failure: 17.28%

– I can affect many aspects of a project’s success, but some are out of my control: 62.3%

– I can affect some aspects of a project’s success, but many are out of my control: 16.58%

– I can’t affect most aspects of a project’s success or failure: 3.84%

We own our project results. Eighty percent of you know and believe that you, as a leader, have a big impact on project outcomes. For you, the challenge is stepping up to greater challenges and letting your team grow into bigger roles. If you have things under control, why not take a risk on someone and give them a chance to further develop? Hopefully you’re also having an impact outside the project scope by being a project leader rather than just a project manager. For those of you who lack control over aspects of your projects, see how you can expand your impact. Ask to take on more responsibility or simply take action where you see action is required. Initiative is almost always universally rewarded.

Do you agree with these poll results?  Let us know in the comments below!

– Mike Figliuolo at thoughtLEADERS, LLC

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These results were originally a SmartPulse poll in SmartBrief on Leadership which tracks feedback from more than 190,000 business leaders. Get smarter on leadership and sign up for the SmartBrief on Leadership e-newsletter.