What do you do if your project stakeholders are causing conflicts and delays?

When you're spearheading a project, the last thing you want is for stakeholder conflicts and delays to derail your progress. Yet, it's an all-too-common scenario in the world of project management. Stakeholders, individuals or groups with a vested interest in the project's outcome, can sometimes have conflicting priorities or perspectives that lead to friction. This can manifest as disagreements over project direction, resource allocation, or deadlines. When not managed effectively, such conflicts can cause significant delays, compromise project goals, and even result in a project's failure. Your role in navigating these choppy waters is critical, and it all starts with strong interpersonal communication skills.

1 Identify Issues

When conflicts arise, the first step is to identify the root causes. Engage with your stakeholders in one-on-one conversations to understand their concerns and perspectives. Listen actively and empathetically, demonstrating that you value their input. This can often reveal underlying issues that are driving the conflict, such as a lack of clarity about project goals or a perceived imbalance in the distribution of project benefits. Once you have a clear picture of the issues at hand, you can begin to work towards a resolution that satisfies all parties involved.

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2 Open Dialogue

Encouraging open dialogue among stakeholders is essential. Facilitate meetings where everyone can voice their opinions and concerns in a constructive manner. This helps to promote transparency and build trust. As you mediate these discussions, remain neutral and focused on the project's objectives. Your goal is to foster a collaborative environment where stakeholders can find common ground and agree on a way forward that aligns with the project's best interests.

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3 Prioritize Goals

It's important to revisit and prioritize the project's goals together with your stakeholders. Sometimes, conflicts arise when stakeholders are not aligned on the project's objectives or when personal agendas overshadow the collective goals. By reaffirming the primary objectives with everyone's input, you can ensure that all stakeholders are working towards the same end. This alignment is crucial for moving past conflicts and preventing future ones.

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4 Develop Solutions

With a clear understanding of the issues and aligned goals, you can now work with stakeholders to develop solutions to the conflicts. This might involve compromising on certain aspects of the project, reallocating resources, or adjusting timelines. The key is to create solutions that are acceptable to all parties while still maintaining the integrity and viability of the project. Remember, collaboration is at the heart of successful project management.

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5 Implement Changes

After reaching an agreement on how to resolve the conflicts, it's time to implement the changes. This may require updating the project plan and communicating the new direction to the wider team. Ensure that all stakeholders understand their roles and responsibilities in enacting these changes. It's also important to monitor the impact of these changes on the project's progress and make further adjustments as necessary.

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6 Monitor Progress

Finally, keep a close eye on the project's progress following the resolution of stakeholder conflicts. Regular check-ins with stakeholders can help maintain alignment and catch any new issues early on. By staying proactive and engaged, you can prevent conflicts from recurring and keep your project on track. Remember, effective stakeholder management is an ongoing process that requires constant attention and adept communication skills.

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Anna Kłaczyńska, PhD

Agile explorer | Enablement Sales | Senior Executive Assistant & PMO | Teacher of Polish as a Foreign Language | Ambassador of Company Culture of Work Programme
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Be engaged yourself and stay inclusive for others: - show the team that you are part of it, that you are here to support them all together and as individuals, - keep your hand on pulse and stay close to the team members, - get feedback and ask for opinions, - always be the one that stands up for your teammates, let everyone know it, - empower others, don’t micromanage.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Shweta Jaiswar

Assistant Manager - II | Postgraduate Degree in Banking & Finance Management
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When stakeholders are causing delays and conflicts, it's essential to address the issue proactively. First, communicate openly with them to understand their concerns and perspectives. Try to find common ground and work towards a solution collaboratively. If necessary, involve a mediator or higher-level management to facilitate discussions and resolve conflicts. Document any agreements or decisions reached to ensure accountability. Ultimately, focusing on clear communication, empathy, and finding mutually beneficial solutions can help mitigate delays and conflicts caused by stakeholders.

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Anna Kłaczyńska, PhD

Agile explorer | Enablement Sales | Senior Executive Assistant & PMO | Teacher of Polish as a Foreign Language | Ambassador of Company Culture of Work Programme
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Recreate the team 🆕 or pause and act on the team formation. Here is how: ⭐️ If you can 👌, set up a new team or ask individual team members if they will to relocate to another project. ⭐️ Invest the time 🕰️, if you can’t setup a team again. Provide a one day workshop - design thinking 🧐, team collaboration exercises, communication training. It’s important to gather all team members, introduce themselves and practice collaboration. This one day will not be a time lost as thanks to collaboration improvements the future work will be done faster and performed better.

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What do you do if your project stakeholders are causing conflicts and delays?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Identify Issues

2 Open Dialogue

3 Prioritize Goals

4 Develop Solutions

5 Implement Changes

6 Monitor Progress

7 Here’s what else to consider

Interpersonal Communication

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What do you do if your project stakeholders are causing conflicts and delays?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Identify Issues

2 Open Dialogue

3 Prioritize Goals

4 Develop Solutions

5 Implement Changes

6 Monitor Progress

7 Here’s what else to consider

Interpersonal Communication

Rate this article

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