Properly managed projects are projects where everyone understands what to do and when. This means giving status reports and recorded actions with a follow-up schedule, if necessary. However, it is common for teams to encounter hurdles which could affect the status of a project. Thus, it is an important step in ensuring success that project managers know how to cope with these issues.
What are Hurdles?
The most preventable and most common barriers are those that people put on themselves. These obstacles could be from personal experiences with tools or even roadblocks due to not consulting the internet or an expert. Examples of these hurdles varies from issues with time, budgeting, goal-setting, internal team misunderstandings, and even impractical deadlines.
How to Deal with Hurdles
Handling hurdles can differ for every individual or team. There are a few approaches that project managers use to take care of these issues.
- Conducting research – Using the internet to learn from others’ triumphs and failures is a great resource. The more lessons you learn throughout your project, the more information you will have to fall back on when you run into the same problem again.
- Proactive involvement – In managing projects, continuous involvement is important in handling problems. This means communicating not only with the team but with the clients as well. It is important to identify, document, and communicate risks and issues early. Be realistic about how the issue or risk impacts the project.
- Setting Goals – Project managers can use popular goal-setting techniques like SMART , or Specific Measurable Attainable Relevant Time-bound, and CLEAR , or Collaborative Limited Emotional Appreciable Refinable, to develop a set of successful goals. This can assist in overcoming obstacles. It is a mistake to have unclearly defined goals. Make sure that your teammates are aware of your team’s goals once you’ve established them.
- Managing Risks – When projects spin out of control, it is the project manager’s responsibility to come up with other strategies that the team may use. Project risk management systems help in detecting and managing risk. There must always be a ready back-up plan. The strategy should identify all potential hazards and the appropriate course of action if they materialize.
- Lean on the PMBOK – The PMBOK, or Project Management Body of Knowledge, is a manual made up of traditional practices that is widely practiced in managing projects. Some of its solutions may not be the greatest fit for your project, but it was created by and for project managers. Do not be afraid to rely on the PMBOK. It is there to help.
Final Thoughts
It’s no secret that project management is vital for professional companies in any industry. Particularly for bigger projects, the project management process may become complicated. This is why project managers are necessary in handling operations and unexpected problems. They know that one can never be too prepared especially when it comes to hurdles that they may encounter during the project implementation.
Fortuna BMC, a certified service-disabled veteran owned business (SDVOB) and HUBZone, can provide project managers based on your project needs and requirements. Our team of business experts and professionals have experience in handling teams, efficiently capturing project status and financials, risks management, and more.
We offer services to achieve your project goals on time and on budget. If you are interested in our services, please call (916) 458-0991 or visit their website at www.fortunabmc.com. We offer a free consultation regarding your business needs. Please also like, follow, and share our posts on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Youtube.
