🚩How To Explain Project Management to a 5-Year-Old

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WHY THIS MATTERS

Project management sounds fancy.
Like something only certified professionals or MBAs should do.

But it’s really just three simple questions:
→ What are we trying to do?
→ What needs to happen to get there?
→ Who’s doing what (and when)?

That’s it.

It’s the same logic a 5-year-old uses to build a pillow fort.
They imagine the end result.
They gather the tools (pillows, blankets, chairs).
And they assign roles—“You hold this, I’ll stack that.”

Why does this matter?

Because most teams overcomplicate the process.
They jump into tasks without alignment.
They confuse motion with progress.
And they miss the power of clear, simple planning.

If a 5-year-old can understand the structure of a project—
So can your team.

And when they do?
You get less chaos.
Fewer surprises.
And a finished product that actually works.

THE METHOD

Here’s how to explain project management to a 5 year old:

1) We Make a Plan
• Like building LEGO
• You need the picture first
• Decide what to make and write it down

2) We Watch the Clock
• Like getting ready for a party
• Stay on schedule
• Break things into steps and help others catch up

3) We Make Sure Everyone Knows Their Job
• Like building a fort
• Someone brings snacks, someone builds
• Everyone knows what to do and when

4) We Solve Problems Together
• Like fixing a crayon
• No blaming, just fixing
• Stay calm, try again, keep going

5) We Talk a Lot
• Like telling stories.
• So no one’s confused
• Ask questions, give updates, say thanks

6) We Finish What We Started
• Like cleaning up after cookies
• Check our work first.
• Then celebrate

❓Common Questions Kids Might Ask:

“Are you the boss?”
→ Nope, I’m the helper who keeps everyone together.

“Do you do all the work?”
→ Nope, I help everyone else do their best work.

“What happens if someone quits?”
→ We find a new helper and keep going.

“What if the plan doesn’t work?”
→ Then we make a better plan.

👋What Project Managers Are Really Good At:

• Asking good questions
• Keeping the plan on track
• Making sure things get finished
• Helping people work together
• Fixing problems

CLOSING THOUGHTS

What’s your favorite way to describe what you do?

Join the conversation here and give us your input!

Until next time,
Justin

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