Scary project, the Project Manager can be scared?

 

You just assumed aproject in crisis, out of control and frightening about the financial results, relationship with your customer and possible lay offs....

You as a Project Managers will be frightened?

Most of them will say no!

They will argue that leaders must be tough, resilient and heroic like in the movies Braveheart and Air Force One .all of them perform as great leaders without fear, but this is part of the character.

My answer is yes, leaders can be frightened and scared.

Because we want real, genuine and authentic leaders.

We want leaders who look at the top of the mountain  and aspire to reach the top.

If you do not show fear in frightening situations the team can imagine if you're real or if you are lying.

If you are afraid or scared it is completely normal, the team prefers to know that you have concerns and sees risks they see, and more ... As leaders we can not remain scared.

Even if you are scared of the project, the lesson is tough but you must lead. What most people do when they feel fear?

Think about what you do when you watch a scary moments in a movie, you'll be doing the same thing that frightened person on the screen are doing.

They do nothing. When we are afraid, we freeze, do not move, we lose the initiative.

As a project manager  (and leader) you can have and feel fear, but you can not stop, you must act.

How can you do that?

I suggest some steps you can perform even in fearful situations:

1. Note that, as a leader, sometimes, the project situation is frightening. You are in the front of the project, looking at a future where you and your team may never have been before. It is important to know that sometimes that vision will cause fear. Prepare yourself mentally, it's a good first step, without panic,
2. Acknowledge your fear, anxiety or distress. You probably will not be surprised by your negative emotions on the situation because they exist and you're already mentally prepared (remember step 1) ,
3. Recognize the emotions of the team. If the team is afraid, let them know what is normal, and be truthful about their feelings as well,
4. Make a plan, if necessary regroup the team to decide the next step, but the focus here is to decide what to do, not doing nothing is an excuse to keep frozen and inactive,
5. Take action, do something, the best way to lose the fear is to build trust and take steps that require action on your part along with the staff (use the step 4),
6. Keep the team with you, do not face the situation alone, you are not super hero you are a leader so you are leading these people to face the situation as a team. You must support and encourage the team and remember that numbers bring greater safety for everyone,
7. Seek for feedback and continue your walk, move on. Action moments are not great ways to relieve stress, anxiety and fear, but they are paths to success and progress.

Nelson Rosamilha,PMP®,BB®,Prince 2 Practitioner®
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