Burning Bridges - Costly Mistakes Arising from Unnecessary Errors

Professionals working in the field of project management are often exposed to stressful situations and frustrations caused by a wide variety of challenges ranging from unrealistic expectations, stakeholder resistance, or constantly changing priorities. The reactions to these challenges depends greatly on the individual, their experience, and capabilities. One thing that is certain is professionals could employ different techniques in dealing with organizational or team stressors, some positive, and others negative. Unfortunately, even the most seasoned professionals are sometimes susceptible to committing a major mistake or taking an action that could ultimately be detrimental to the organization. Given that all projects are about relationships, one of the most common causes of mistakes is due to misalignment of relationships. As project, program, and portfolio managers react to these misalignments either fix them or to deal with frustration, there is a major risk that the action could ultimately result in burning bridges in terms of relationships with stakeholders, sponsors, customers, or organization. Burning bridges results in irreparable damage to relationships and often in hind sight may not be necessary.

This webinar explores the concept of burning bridges through a series of scenarios based on fictionalized accounts and stories. The session will draw upon lessons learned from real life situations to share tips on how professionals can guard against unnecessary mistakes leading to burned bridges. We will also discuss potential techniques and actions to be used in avoiding some common mistakes.