3 experts have described difficult decisions they had to take in one project.
Now think about what was important for them in taking the decision the took. Would they act differently in a different context? Why?
(If you are part of an ongoing PM bootcamp cohort on DEXA, also copy your comment to your group)
As a project manager, you need to b innovative when faced with difficult challenges
Rather than dwelling on the challenges, the most important thing for the 3 of them was the goal of the project and it spurred them on to making considerable marks on their respective projects.
The three experts spoke on issues that affected the effective execution of their projects and how they were resolved. They had to make tough decisions such as terminating the project, finding solutions to carry out the project, and also the effect of communication(Language barrier).
As a project Manager one has to be proactive, empathetic, flexible and invested in the project to see it to completion.
The 3 speakers pinpointed various ways they deal with difficult decisions. Each speaker had to be proactive, strategic, apply empathy, and communicate with the parties involved for a solution. So as a project manager, dealing with difficult decisions is an essential skill.
In the video, I noticed that all the project managers shared a common objective as a team: working towards a specific goal. To achieve this, they had to make tough decisions, whether it was terminating a project, sticking to their value of collaboration and legacy regardless of the circumstances or bridging language barriers. Their approach was always aligned with the goal, and had the context been different, they would have adapted their strategies to ensure success. This shows that flexibility, teamwork and constant communication are essential in reaching project objectives.
The first experts had difficulty in the termination of projects. She weighed the options before any termination was done and communicated to the stakeholders appropriately.
The expert with the water supply issue was able to look into the values and reach out to the clients to discuss the issue and it was resolved and necessary actions were taken.
The third client had a language barrier as he couldn’t communicate only in his native language due to him being a project manager, and communication is 80 percent of the job of a project manager. And he was able to overcome that and also bring people together.
As a project manager, you should be able to Communicate, be proactive, and have empathy, especially when you have to make tough decisions like terminating a project.
The three project managers had issues with ending q project prematurely, language and contingency issues. with Concerning the termination of the project, it took courage and lots of communication to acknowledge that they had done all they could and the project would have to stop. For the expert dealing with the water supply for the sport event, they stood by their value and that was collaboration and legacy. Language is am important thing to consider in a project as it can affect communication, the expert project manager did great in handling this issue.
From my own point of view,the 3 speakers narrate some of their ordeals/challenges they all came across and how they took approachable steps in resolving them which includes communication, being proactive,time management, working under pressure,terminating a project, meeting deadlines and lots more.
I think the steps they took in approaching each problem is based on how much knowledge they have gathered to tackle that particular project.
The decision to terminate an existing project is the hardest decision to make
The three experts pinpointed their challenges in making difficult decisions in their career as a Project Manager. The decision to terminate a project early giving all the efforts put into the project. Examples are when organizations have another high priority project ongoing, when the project is not feasible to continue, in this case the decision to continue versus cancelling depends on clear options that are set out for better understanding- resolving this will mean staying positive throughout the process, discuss the setbacks and review the goals of the project and outline the lessons learned from the cancelled project.
The second male PM who spoke about a sport event that needed a water supply but the manager had no resources outlined for such emergent need in one of the proposed venues, this led to a meeting with their client and the client later paid for a contingency buffer to help the situation which later become a legacy for that venue.
The third expert said Language was his main challenge that has led to project cancellation since Communication is an important feature or skill needed to carry out projects. Communication is key in every project and could hinder flow of information amongst stakeholders.
These points above was for them the right decision they could have made at that point which was carefully considered and discussed among the team before a final decision was made. As for me, they could have acted differently in a different context where the scenerio or situation is different altogether.