"That Which Does Not Kill Us..."

 

It was the 19th-century German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche who said, "That which doesn't kill us makes a stronger."

I look at project challenges this way. Over the years I have come to appreciate that regardless of the project management methodology, the PPM software, or the training of the project manager, there are some pretty common challenges that need to be addressed by every project leader. It doesn't even really matter the nature of the project, if you neglect the following, the odds are against your success:

1. Unrealistic Deadlines: The success of some projects might depend on a hard deadline, but most projects don't. Creative and flexible planning can remove the stresses of unrealistic deadlines.
2. Scope Changes: Although most of us would agree that you can't always stop change, you can make stakeholders aware of what scope changes cost. Changes in schedule, cost, and even the quality of the product can add us fast.
3. Failing to Manage Risk: Ignoring risk doesn't make it go away. Acknowledging risk and addressing it early will at least minimize expensive issues later. Risk and efforts to mitigate risk should be identified before the project has even begun.
4. Poor Team Communication and Collaboration: With all the technology available today, there is almost no excuse for poor project communication. The right PPM software makes collaboration easier—and online project management software makes it possible for teams spread throughout the world to effectively collaborate.
5. Stakeholders Who Aren't Engaged: Keeping stakeholders informed of project status is only a start. The real challenge involves helping stakeholders see the value of becoming real project advocates.
6. Undefined Project Goals and Objectives: To maximize the value of every project, each project should be tied to some kind of strategic objective. Once identified, it's critical that everyone understand the strategic value of of any particular project in process. Most people want to be part of something bigger than themselves. It's always been a puzzle to me why so many organizations neglect to share their vision with the workforce.

Are there any of these common challenges you face? What do you do to overcome them?