Are you a stressed project manager? Not surprisingly, project management can be incredibly stressful. We're responsible for delivery on time, on budget and scope but often have to deal with limited or poorly equipped resources, unrealistic client expectations and a to-do list that could easily reach the moon and back. Saving Changes...
Yes, is sure can be, when you are managing multiple projects at a time, you are spending your time working with difficult stakeholders, you projects are spending millions or dollars. Yes, it can be very stressful for sure.
It depends. If the project manager is qualified enough, then there should not be that much stress. However, the type/nature of the project is important as well.
Our role is to try to bring predictability to uncertainty which implies that we might get stressed as a side-effect. How we deal with that stress is what is important.
Kiron
Its more in critics actually nor predicts but no issues at all. Just wanted they really get what i means. Nway no issue at all and sorry. Saving Changes...
It is stressful by nature because stress in people like stress in physics is an internal resistance to change by some outside force.
If I were to bend a tree branch, stress is the internal force trying to bend the branch back to it's original shape. Similarly stress in people is our own internal reaction to external forces bringing us out of our "comfort zones".
Not all stress is bad. That internal energy may be focused. If I stress a stick and attach a string, I have a bow which is a powerful tool that can focus that internal energy on a target. If I am anxious about a project outcome, that anxiety may motivate me to focus on the intended outcome.
Different people deal with different types of stress in different ways, but if you never experienced stress, you would have no reason to change and grow.
I really like this answer, it's a really positive way to look at it! Saving Changes...
Michael DelaneyPartner| Delaney Management LLCWest Chester, Pa, United States
Mar 25, 2021 11:45 AM
Replying to Keith Novak
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It is stressful by nature because stress in people like stress in physics is an internal resistance to change by some outside force.
If I were to bend a tree branch, stress is the internal force trying to bend the branch back to it's original shape. Similarly stress in people is our own internal reaction to external forces bringing us out of our "comfort zones".
Not all stress is bad. That internal energy may be focused. If I stress a stick and attach a string, I have a bow which is a powerful tool that can focus that internal energy on a target. If I am anxious about a project outcome, that anxiety may motivate me to focus on the intended outcome.
Different people deal with different types of stress in different ways, but if you never experienced stress, you would have no reason to change and grow.
Keith an excellent analogy. I often am asked if i get stressed and reply that my job is to relieve stress. Saving Changes...
Stressful situations are common in the daily work of a Project Manager. Emotional Intelligence helps to overcome these states.
There is a good article on ProjectManagement.com page, with the title of: "The lazy project manager", and says that: "we should all adopt a more focused approach to project management and to exercise our efforts where it really matters, rather than rushing around like busy, busy bees involving ourselves in unimportant, non-critical activities that others can better address, or indeed that do not need addressing at all in some cases".
"It's not the load that breaks you, it's the way you carry it." Saving Changes...
Peter RapinSubject Matter Expect; Project Delivery| Independent ConsultantOntario, Canada
I agree that a poorly planned project can, and usually is, stressful. Poor plans lead to "limited or poorly equipped resources, unrealistic client expectations and a to-do list that could easily reach the moon and back". The project manager's job is to identify and mitigate these risks. If you don't have the authority to do so then you are a PM in name only. Once you have undergone this stress due to poor planning you become motivated to do better next time.
As a seasoned PM you should have no surprises - you will have issues but the reaction should not be stress but a recognition that you had considered it and have appropriate response.
You apparently already have a grasp that things will go wrong (staffing issues, demanding stakeholders and much to do). Now all you have to do is layout a response to each prior to occurrence and implement as necessary.
As a comment on Susan's note above I suggest that to know how to carry a load first you have to understand it. Saving Changes...
