In my regular PM meeting, we had this as part of our "topic of the month" and I wanted to open it to you guys to see what you think. So, how do you deliver bad news on a project?
Is it like a band aid and just do it quick and fast to minimise the pain? Or is it better to wait and see if your sponsor notices? (Yes, someone really did say that!). Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
Here my approach: bad news in a project do not exist. They are bad news because your perception, not becuase your stakeholders perception. Then, think about your stakeholders perception. They are not perceived as bad news until you say/show them they are bad news then work on that. But the key thing is: you must not perceived it as bad news. You must perceived it as opportunities or something like that. You have to see the cup as being half full. Saving Changes...
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Emily
In our profession, and every other profession, Transparency is of utmost importance and the lack of the latter can be detrimental to the projects and relationships between people so I certainly would be honest, be transparent and deliver the news in a politically correct fashion.
RK Saving Changes...
Michael HilbertDirector of Project Management| TuWay CommunicationsBethlehem, Pa, United States
Emily, I always like to do this as soon as I am sure there will be a delay. I also like to offer alternatives (if there are any) and overall impact to the project (cost, scope, time). I agree with others, this is a MUST DO for a PM... Saving Changes...
Hi Emily, would there actually be really 'bad news', if we are monitoring those unknown unknowns, those potential risks would already be on the radar..... of course there may be an occasion when something hits you for six, totally out of the blue, but could we treat that as a threat or an opportunity.... transparency is however, key. Saving Changes...
Thanks Emily, very relevant topic! Agree with others, transparency is key. Whilst ‘putting plasters’ may sound common in large organisations for various reasons, it’s always wise putting an ‘internal audit’ hat on, this keeps me in check and supports among others transparency, accuracy, validity & completeness principles. Saving Changes...
Abdelhamid CHELGHOUMProject construction manager | Sonatrach groupBatna, Batna, Algeria
Dear Emily,
Depending on the situation, means we need to inform, but communication and the way of communicating that is the key, can be well accepted or probably can get a bad impact
thanks
Hamid Saving Changes...
Each news and context will warrant a different way to announce them. I would do it certainly do it rapidly and honestly. I like Kiron suggestions and Keith on reviewing the stakeholder information.
You may want to start with your sponsor and have the sponsor onboard first. Saving Changes...
Product Operations Program ManagerBarcelona, Cataluña, Spain
Waiting and seeing - or even worse, hiding - can almost never be a good practice. Sponsors like to be informed as soon as possible of any aspects that compromise project's "well being". Failing to do that will immediately cause a lack of trust from the sponsor.
Bad news can be delivered. What is a good practice is to present potential solutions to remediate, e.g. decision tree. This shows pro-activeness and leadership from the PM. Saving Changes...
Jaleel .PMP, Associate Director| MetricStreamBangalore, India
Communication irrespective of good or bad news need to have clear data points and should also consider the aspect of whom it's getting delivered to. The same communication when done to different set of stakeholders could be different but the goal should be to ensure that the communication is clear and crisp. The one who's receiving should clearly understand the intent. Saving Changes...
Ed Tsyitee JrConsultant | Consultant Tucson, Az, United States
This is interesting. One would think that constant communication via the stakeholder register would lessen this.
It's just news. How people react to it makes bad or good. So, some stakeholders might view the news as good and other bad.
I think everyone involved would know if the project is going off the rails.
Better tell the bitter truth rather than suffer through a lie. Rip that band aid off is sometimes the best thing. It's a reality check when you do. Saving Changes...
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