Project Managers Deal with Adversity

Project Managers always have to deal with adversity.  Adversity is present in many of the things that a project manager has to do.

Projects are disruptive to the normal operation of a business.  Hopefully, the project is initiated to improve the business or to take advantage of an opportunity.  This type of action is disruptive to the employees in the business that do the same thing the same way since the beginning of time. They will be passive aggressive.  Change is never easy and it is harder when people believe the that change will do away with their jobs.

Sometimes project managers need to depend on others that are not their employees and they can not influence in any way, such as in a matrix type organization.  This odd relationship does not mean that the project manager is off the hook, it means the the project manager has to deal with that adversity.  This type of arrangement is hard and the project manager must communicate and build a relationship with these employees.

Another area where a project manager must face adversity is when there are somewhat hostile stake holders.  This is another area where the project manager must communicate and build a relationship with the stakeholders.  Stakeholders provide a bigger challenge in someways because they have their own agenda.

Project managers must deal with adversity, I certainly have.  To me, adversity is an opportunity to improve my communication and relationship building skills.  Sometimes this is hard, but it also makes success all the much sweeter!