Are You Exhibiting Realistic Resilience?

Andy Jordan is President of Roffensian Consulting S.A., a Roatan, Honduras-based management consulting firm with a comprehensive project management practice. Andy always appreciates feedback and discussion on the issues raised in his articles and can be reached at [email protected]. Andy's new book Risk Management for Project Driven Organizations is now available.

  Leadership   Risk Management  

I realize it’s not exactly a contemporary pop culture reference, but in the words of The Black Knight from Monty Python; “Tis but a scratch.” (If you don’t know what I am referring to, then Google is your friend—but be warned, it’s not a family-friendly video clip and plays to a dark sense of humor as a guard suffers limb loss in his quest to keep King Arthur from passing. However, if we’re going to be friends, you need to keep up on your Monty Python references!)

I have been reminded of this particular quote a lot over the last few years as I talk to project professionals in various roles who have been dealing with all kinds of stresses related to their initiatives. Whether it’s pandemic, economic turmoil, resourcing challenges, or any number of other things, it seems like expectations have been elevated, risks have been triggered everywhere, and every constraint has been squeezed within an inch of its life (and then some).

Yet most of the PMs I’ve spoken to have made out like it’s no big deal. Oh sure, things have been tough, but they’re doing well, their teams are doing well, and everything is looking good for the outcomes of their projects. In some cases, I am sure that is the situation; but I’m also sure that in many instances, the PM in question is playing The Black Knight, playing down a dire …

Please log in or sign up below to read the rest of the article.