A failing project is something that is likely to cause you some sleepless nights and might even cause a few of your hairs to turn grey too.
However, there are definitely some right and wrong ways of dealing with a project that has lost its way. Among the worst things that you can do is try to hide the truth of the current situation.
Lull Everyone into a False Sense of Security
If you consistently tell everyone that the project is just hunky dory and tickety-boo then you will expect them to be pretty relaxed about the whole thing. Certainly, you won’t cause any alarm or cause them to get nervous about the work.
Yet, if it is a failing project then you really need them to be on alert. By lulling them into a false sense of security you are only delaying the inevitable moment when you break the bad news.
It is going to be a pretty nasty surprise for them when they find out that the project that was apparently going swimmingly is now a bit of a disaster. They might, understandably, call your integrity and business acumen into question for hiding these details from them.
Lose the Chance to Get Help on a Failing Project
One of the first issues to cross your mind on a failing project should be the need to get some help. This could be in terms of a bigger budget, extra staff or whatever else is needed to get things back on track.
If you hide the truth of the situation then you deny yourself the chance of getting this much needed help. By the time that you get some help then it may be too late to make a difference.
Admitting that you need help isn’t the easiest thing in the world to do but doing it at the right time could save your project from getting even further behind. After all, you want to find the best way to make difficult work easy, don’t you?
Lost the Trust of Your Team and Stakeholders
Do you think that the people you work with on the project are going to be impressed when they find out that you hid the reality of a failing project from them? That’s right; they are probably going to be pretty annoyed at you.
As the PRINCE2 certified project manager in charge of the work it is up to you to keep everyone informed of the progress honestly and openly. If you fail in this aspect then you will almost certainly lose the trust of the people who depend upon you.
On the other hand, if you are completely honest with your team and stakeholders then this should help you to build up stronger bonds over time.
You Can Fool Yourself Too
Finally, is there a chance that you might end up fooling yourself too? Maybe you will start to believe the half-truths that you tell everyone to keep them happy.
When you carry out your PRINCE2 training in Birmingham it is the start of a new chapter in your career. As part of this you should make sure that you act as professionally as possible and keep everyone accurately updated at all times.