Restlessness and Discontent for Effective Project Management
Thomas A. Edison said that there is no progress without restlessness and discontent. True are these words when it comes to understanding how a successful Projects must be managed.
Projects today are complex. Multi-tracks, Multi-cultural and Multi-time zones are just a few Project Management challenges. Communications, the cornerstone of Projects, is now a key problem for Project Managers and their teams to solve. Dispersed teams further add risks to successful Project Execution and their commitment to timely deliveries.
In addition to the above issues, risks that appear from changes to schedules, scopes and capabilities plague progress. Gaining visibility beyond weekly tasks is becoming a never possible. Most Projects have the "close and comfort" zone that Managers create in order to park and diffuse risks. In reality, this zone is so thin to bear the weight of most Project delays for ensuring turnarounds.
Communication can become a reason for resentment. Keeping the teams focused on Delivering when Communication fails is a best practice way to regain and build Confidence.
Unknown and uncertain elements create a perfect storm for Project Managers. Leading teams to succeed in such a terrain of restlessness and discontent is no more a sign of danger but an effective technique of Project Management.
Finally to remember in Project Communications- a fat chance and a slim chance; both mean the same thing. Before context arrives, the problem is born and is growing stronger.
