A little project management’s health check list.

Power and grace

Poor communications are the deadliest risk for any project. There are many reasons for this kind of problem. Some of them are beyond the reach of the project manager. However, it does not exempt us, as project manager, from undertaking any action to reduce the presence of this risk. Charity begins at home. The quality of personal feelings is a key value for the project. As professional people we have the guts to assert our own rights. Doing it in a cooperative way, we can be sure of investing our stamina on the right challenges.Is it possible that the joy of taking the order is overwhelming the ability to recognize incoming difficulties?

Let start with a key relationship between project manager and sponsors (executives).

The senior management, very often, is the source of the project manager power.

Like every other human activity, written words cannot cover all subtleties. The contract and the mandate has to form the solid basis for an excellent collaboration. The results, built on these foundations, are created  by a collaboration free of any misunderstanding.

This list wishes to offer some useful thoughts. Those that can sap a relationship that is essential to everybody’s peace of mind.
The results have to keep strictly confidential, then to be used for starting the process of finding the causes of poor communications.

1. Is there a written mandate that clearly states each role? (Prince2 could offer a good starting point)
2. Is the “economic” agreement (freelance / career) satisfactory for both parties?
3. Is it a pleasure to talk to each other at the coffee machine?
4. Does an unexpected call give a tingling?
5. Is there a special relationship between one the team person and the senior management? If so, does it create an eerie within the team?
6. Does the plan include regular meeting with senior management? Are these meetings satisfactorily for both parties?
7. To face an unexpected request from any stakeholder is it feasible (comfortable) to use some project’s reserve to call in an external specialist?
8. Is there an open alliance toward all stakeholders or just a closed connivance that confirms the feeling, we against the rest of our world?

Conclusion

“Unhappy the land that needs heroes“. The only reason for sustain all efforts necessary to deliver the project’s scope is the business outcome. The correct flow of information can be only maintained by mutual respect and trust.
Successes will create pleasure as well defeats will cause pain. If anyone believes to be able to dodge them or sustain them more than other people forming the stakeholders group, he/she is definitely not a good team player.