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When a project hits a deadline, as PMP and CAPM exam prep candidates have learned, the entire team might go into crisis mode. Stakeholders will look to you, the project manager, as alarm bells will ring, co-workers will panic, and alarm bells will ring. The ability to deal with delicate issues in a time-conscious, solution-based manner is critical to success in this position.
- Notice The Early Signs
Even seemingly insurmountable issues might have warning indicators, and recognizing them can make or break a project's deadline. Staying on top of rumors, regularly monitoring statistics, and spotting even tiny stakeholder concerns are all effective strategies to stay on top of a problem. Turning your back on a problem, no matter how minor at first, will only allow it to grow while you are away.
- Communicate With Your Team
It is critical for a project manager to lead by example during a crisis and communicate properly with the entire team, as learned in PMP and CAPM exam prep. Open communication actively eliminates any ambiguity or doubt by keeping employees informed of developments as they occur. Under pressure, even experienced experts can panic and become negative; it is the project manager's responsibility to maintain a positive and focused attitude at all times to help manage stress.
- Update With the Bad
While no one wants to hear more bad news during a crisis, being realistic with your team will assist to ensure that everyone is on the same page. It is critical for a project manager to be unafraid of communicating difficulties to stakeholders and pointing out when a situation is urgent. It goes without saying that they will value being kept informed and working with a professional, honest, and trustworthy workforce.
- Be Solution-Focused
Focusing on identifying the source of the problem will get you much closer to a solution than assigning blame, which could stymie the effort. You and your co-workers will gain nothing by facilitating the bad conversation. A successful project manager must work relentlessly to ensure that their staff remain happy and enthused as they seek a solution.
- Prevention Is Better Than Cure
Only having no difficulty to tackle in the first place is preferable to having a rapid, effective solution. Eliminating the possibility of a catastrophe before it occurs necessitates outstanding communication, extensive research, and meticulous attention to detail. Of course, there will always be unexpected events, and in these cases, a project manager should seize the opportunity to shine and ensure that the same problem does not arise again.
Need more insights on the same? Enroll in a CAPM or PMP training program today!