You and everyone else thought you have a wonderful project plan. All seemed to be well thought out. The team is on a high note and are raring to start. The other stakeholders are just about as excited and are more than willing to give you the budget and their most sought-after approval and support. Great!
The project is going fine and according to schedule. However, towards some stages, problems keep on cropping up threatening the whole project. There could be a number of reasons why projects can falter aside from a bad project plan design: office politics, vendor delays, equipment malfunctions, or even team members' waning or lack of interests.
When everything seems to be going adversely, what do we do? Of course there is no use fretting or sulking in a corner. Rather, make it an opportunity to show and test the mettle of your leadership.
First, we have to admit the problem exists. Don't play the blame game, nothing will come out of it. Rather, as the leader of the team, have the guts to accept the problem exists and is staring us in the face. Avoiding it or sidestepping on it will not help in hurdling the problem. If it is an oversight, have the courage to let it be known by all the stakeholders squarely.
Second, make the necessary adjustments or changes. Once you have admitted the problem exists, gather all your strengths and assets to make all the necessary adjustments on the original plan. This option is sometimes the only way to save the project and worse, your job or your career. Document everything especially the changes that have to be done. After you have made a viable secondary option, share it with all those concerned - from the one with greatest influence to the one with the least. Do not leave anyone out in the cold. Remember three things: one, communication is always the key to success; two, teamwork can spell the difference, no one person can take all the credits; and three, the blame cannot be shared but will only fall on one shoulder - yours.
Third, reach out to all the persons concerned - team members, stakeholders even second or third parties that may be involved. Negotiate, compromise, whatever it takes to complete the project. Take also into consideration the culture and the politics involve within the organization. Use the political inclination of each influential stakeholder and use it to the advantage of the project.
Sometimes all it takes is a little courage to straighten things out and come out blazing. Again, it all starts from you.
Further Reading Resources:
What to do when your solution doesn't work
Ron Ashkenas: Use Office Politics to Your Advantage
Ron Askenas: Why you should question your culture
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