An important skill that benefits a Project Manager is active listening. What was the most interesting or unusual thing you heard in a conversation between your project stakeholders that surprised, worried you, or made you laugh? Saving Changes...
Once I was in a Project risk management meeting where I was facilitating a brainstorming session for creating the risk register. This was when one of the senior manager (also a stakeholder) commented" there are no risks in a project. There are only IFs" . This was a little shock to me specially when coming from a senior leadership. This is where I had to have a conversation with him that YES a risk statement starts with a IF but there is more to it which means If this was to happen what would be the consequence. Knowing the consequence we need to plan a mitigation. Setting up a risk register is not about gathering the If's but also knowing the outcome and create a plan or create a change request.
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2 replies by Eduard Hernandez and Verónica Elizabeth Pozo Ruiz
Sep 11, 2025 12:40 PM
Verónica Elizabeth Pozo Ruiz
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Rohit, what a great example of applying adequate risk management. You've shown the senior management that this is a complete process, not only risk identification, but also risk management planning, risk analysis, risk response planning, and risk control and monitoring. Thanks for sharing this interesting experience in a brainstorming session.
Sep 11, 2025 4:03 PM
Eduard Hernandez
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Once I mentioned to a bunch of senior stakeholders that every assumption was a risk. It took them a few minutes to process.
I was leading a stakeholder meeting, second or third one in the project, and there was one person who hadn't said a word. Always present, always quiet. As we approached a big decision point, I paused and said, "What do you think about all this?"
There was a moment of silence. Then they finally spoke: "If I speak, you’ll stop the project."
That moment taught me a lot about active listening. Not just hearing loud voices or confident opinions, but making space for the quieter ones, the hesitant ones...
We did not stop the project, but we did change course. Because of that one comment, we uncovered a major risk that others had missed or avoided.
Active listening isn't passive. It’s intentional. It’s asking, pausing, and truly hearing...especially the people who aren't used to being asked.
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1 reply by Verónica Elizabeth Pozo Ruiz
Sep 15, 2025 11:33 AM
Verónica Elizabeth Pozo Ruiz
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Mayte, this is an interesting example of participative practices with introvert team members... Thanks for sharing this experience with us.
Once I was in a Project risk management meeting where I was facilitating a brainstorming session for creating the risk register. This was when one of the senior manager (also a stakeholder) commented" there are no risks in a project. There are only IFs" . This was a little shock to me specially when coming from a senior leadership. This is where I had to have a conversation with him that YES a risk statement starts with a IF but there is more to it which means If this was to happen what would be the consequence. Knowing the consequence we need to plan a mitigation. Setting up a risk register is not about gathering the If's but also knowing the outcome and create a plan or create a change request.
Rohit, what a great example of applying adequate risk management. You've shown the senior management that this is a complete process, not only risk identification, but also risk management planning, risk analysis, risk response planning, and risk control and monitoring. Thanks for sharing this interesting experience in a brainstorming session. Saving Changes...
Product Operations Program ManagerBarcelona, Cataluña, Spain
Sep 11, 2025 9:42 AM
Replying to Rohit Singh
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Once I was in a Project risk management meeting where I was facilitating a brainstorming session for creating the risk register. This was when one of the senior manager (also a stakeholder) commented" there are no risks in a project. There are only IFs" . This was a little shock to me specially when coming from a senior leadership. This is where I had to have a conversation with him that YES a risk statement starts with a IF but there is more to it which means If this was to happen what would be the consequence. Knowing the consequence we need to plan a mitigation. Setting up a risk register is not about gathering the If's but also knowing the outcome and create a plan or create a change request.
Once I mentioned to a bunch of senior stakeholders that every assumption was a risk. It took them a few minutes to process. Saving Changes...
I was leading a stakeholder meeting, second or third one in the project, and there was one person who hadn't said a word. Always present, always quiet. As we approached a big decision point, I paused and said, "What do you think about all this?"
There was a moment of silence. Then they finally spoke: "If I speak, you’ll stop the project."
That moment taught me a lot about active listening. Not just hearing loud voices or confident opinions, but making space for the quieter ones, the hesitant ones...
We did not stop the project, but we did change course. Because of that one comment, we uncovered a major risk that others had missed or avoided.
Active listening isn't passive. It’s intentional. It’s asking, pausing, and truly hearing...especially the people who aren't used to being asked.
Mayte, this is an interesting example of participative practices with introvert team members... Thanks for sharing this experience with us. Saving Changes...
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