5. Are the right people in the room?

No project succeeds in isolation. Every project relies on others – for decisions, expertise, resources, and support.

So the question five in this series is: Are the right people in the room?

Do you have the right people on the project team? When you run a workshop are the right voices represented? Are you connected to the people you depend on the most?

Are you engaging with them regularly, or only when something goes wrong? Do they understand what you are trying to achieve, and are their motivations aligned with yours?

No sponsor or project team can see the whole picture. Progress depends on bringing in different perspectives (technical, operational, commercial) at the right moments. What role can external partners play in bringing a different viewpoint or even accelerating parts of the solution.

Without the right people you are never going to be aware of your blind spots and you will miss opportunities.

At the same time, more people is not always better. Too many voices in the room can slow progress, dilute accountability, and make decisions harder rather than better. The challenge is finding the balance between inclusion the right people and effectiveness of outcome.

This question isn’t just about governance structures or stakeholder lists. It’s about connection, trust, and influence. Who really needs to be involved for the project to move forward.

So the fifth question looks beyond the immediate teams and asks: Are the right people in the room?