Clever, canny and sly, rats are cunning little creatures that live among us and aren’t afraid to leave their mark. Commonly known for being optimistic and highly intelligible, rats will rarely pass up a free meal, a cozy place to rest or a great opportunity. Oftentimes, these critters are quick on their feet in pursuit of some adventure and will scurry away before we even know that they are there. Between you and me, we all have rats in the family. Even though we might not always be able to catch them, we can sniff them out and see the traces they leave behind. Well, lucky for the rats, it’s their year and hopefully we can take some time to learn more about them.

This Lunar New Year, we’re celebrating the Year of the Rat. The rat is the first of all zodiac animals and it is associated with the Earthly Branch (地支—dì zhī) Zi (子) and the midnight hours. In the terms of yin and yang (阴阳—yīn yáng), the rat is yang and represents the beginning of a new day. According to the Chinese culture, rats are seen as a symbol of wealth and surplus, and many pay homage to rats because of their high reproductive rate and fertility genes. At the same time, rats are known for their optimism, curiosity and quick thinking which can lead to an abundance of resources and opportunity. Do you know of a rat in your family? It’s likely we all do. Instead of turning up our noses and shutting the door on them, here are seven qualities that you, as a project manager, can learn from these clever-minded creatures. 

In order, here are the 12 zodiac animals: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. A Rat year occurs every 12 years.

Stay one step ahead of the competition: Between the turtle and the hare, it was determined that quick feet wasn’t the only attribute that got you first to the finish line. And in the same light, it’s not what got the rat to the finish line first. According to the Chinese legend, the Jade Emperor held a competition to determine the order of the zodiac animals — and this would be decided by the order in which they arrived at his party. With all the animals arriving to the finish line, it was a close call, but the rat tricked the ox into giving him a ride. Just as they arrived, the rat jumped down and landed ahead of the ox, becoming the first to enter the party and thus awarded its position as the first of all zodiac animals. The rat’s sharp wit, willful intention and steadfast maneuvering led him to finish the race first. Similarly, project managers need to be three steps ahead of the customer and another two steps ahead of their own team so they can all cross the finish line together. 

Be positive and optimistic when it matters most: To date, there hasn’t been a single project I’ve managed or been a part of that went off without a hitch. While that may or may not be telling of my project management skills, it’s a known fact that many organizations have a 70% project failure rate according to 4PM. Some of the main culprits include not setting clear expectations with Management or getting their buy in, caving in to the demands of customers and/or going above and beyond the baseline scope of work (also known as Gold Plating), underestimating resources, overestimating stakeholder interests, and so on. Rats come in knowing that they need to stay positive and optimistic in the face of challenges, and project managers need to be able to do the same. Whatever twists and turns take on your project, it’s likely your project manager stepped into this role eager, willing and able to steer the ship. 

Have keen intuition and go with your gut instinct: Rats have strong survival instincts and will do what they need to make it through life with food in their belly and a shelter over their head. Oftentimes they can scurry across the room without making the slightest noise. They can sense danger, trepidation and uneasiness stirring in the air. While many project managers may or may not have the same intuition, keeping your eyes and ears open, showing up to meetings and opening the line of communications will increase the chances of you building a project management knowledge base and resilience amongst your team. 

Embrace practical and economizing measures: Rats don’t need much to survive. As long as their physiological and safety needs are fulfilled they can weather just about any storm. However we, as humans, are much more complicated and require our psychological as well as our self-fulfillment needs to be met in addition to our basic needs according to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. And oftentimes, since we have the means, we tend to help ourselves with more than we need to get the job done. Project management tools such as Basecamp, Smartsheet, Workfront and a bunch of others are great if you have access to them, but it doesn’t make you a better project manager. Investing time to educate yourself about project management, get hands-on experience and learn from your team are a few practical ways to build your foundation. Then, use what you need to get the job done. Having a solid project plan, mapping out roles and responsibilities (using a RACI chart) and clearly communicating current and next steps will make you a more effective project manager than relying on tools and oftentimes, using it as a scapegoat to create more “busy work” for yourself and for the team. 

Exercise quick-wit and intelligence: Learning by experience, primal instinct and fruitful habits are some of the ways that rats develop their sharp wit and intuition. They are known to be thrifty and industrious to adapt and acclimate themselves to survive in most inclement conditions. Project managers are faced with similar known and unknown challenges that require them to be scrappy, creative and think on their feet. Just about every project has its own source of contention whether it may be scheduling, scope creep, budgetary restraints or conflict management. The more project management experience and knowledge you embody, the more equipped you are to respond using quick-wit, intelligence and good judgment. 

Practice humble learning and self-discipline: Besides relying on their gut instinct, rats learn by doing and one wrongdoing can cost them their life. They go through life bold and daring, yet watchful and cautious. Humble learning is a way of life and one that project managers ought to adopt. It requires a sense of curiosity, purpose and the willingness to embrace change. There are several ways to practice humble learning. The common being enrolling in a class, reading professional development books or getting on-the-job training and experience. And while those may be the optimal and preferred methods of training, many do not have the means or the time to invest and go all in. Between the work, commute and family, where do you find the time to learn and condition? Podcasts, audio books, e-readers and online learning make for great alternatives as do meeting co-workers for coffee, volunteering your time and having a mentor. 

Prove capable of embracing change and remain highly adaptable in any circumstance: You don’t always know what the weather blows your way. You’ll have good days and you’ll have bad days. You’ll struggle and find yourself, and you’ll struggle and bury yourself. You’ll win and you’ll lose. But those who prevail are prepared, and they’re able to adapt and embrace change. They combine knowledge, wit and intuition in any circumstance. They are resourceful and can make the best out of any situation. 

This year, the lunar new year came and went, and because of the health crisis, many of us didn’t get the chance to celebrate. While we take care of our family and friends, and most importantly, ourselves, we can still enjoy the spirit of the holiday and learn from our trusty good friend, the rat.