You’ve been hit with unexpected project obstacles. How can you build resilience and move forward?

I like the idea that the two words "problem" and "project" might share the same origin, even if this is probably not so true. You can see it both ways: a project without problems is only an exception, and in reverse you can start a project to address a problem. Key for building resilience and moving forward is the "post mortem", taking time to capture the lessons learned with your stakeholders, and share them within your organisation.

1. Check whether it is an obstacle that truly impact the project goals. 2. If the obstacle the project goals, then assess the impact on speed, quality and value. 3. Acknowledge about this with internal team to arrive at possible path forward to resolve. 4. In parallel, acknowledge about the problem with the stakeholders (clients) with the details (impact, root cause, corrective actions, preventive actions). 5. Seek support from stakeholders, internal leadership team and COE/practice heads to expedite and review the solution approach. 6. Communicate the updates until this problem is fully addressed.

In case one faces an unexpected obstacle in their project, the first step is to acknowledge it and put it up in the team meeting right away. This will help place everyone on the same page and then everyone will try to present solutions based on their own understanding of the problem. Early identification & disclosure, and brainstorming as a team should help move the project in the right direction.

Having a problem is something that worries everyone, but admitting that you have a problem is the first step in identifying the impacts we will have on a project.

There are 2 types of obstacles in Projects. Foreseen, unforeseen. The first type could have been identified as Risk and evaluated. The second type is never considered before. 4 A’s Acknowledge- Acknowledging the obstacle is the first step, than avoiding it. Assess-Assess the effects it brings and agree to on moving forward with our stakeholders is the next important step. Action- next step, where we implement what we agreed. Analyse- why it happened, how we can manage so that it cannot happen in future.

First things first to start with why the incident happened? Then what does it impacts? How will it impact? Who will it impact? When will it impact? By answering at least these questions, one will be in situation to assess the criticality of the instance and that enables to take next decision to acknowledge or not!

In the face of challenges, I've learned to view them as opportunities for growth and innovation. Transforming obstacles into catalysts for learning has been a cornerstone of my approach to leadership. By re-framing challenges as avenues for creativity and resourcefulness, I've empowered teams to embrace change with confidence. This shift in mindset fosters a culture of continuous improvement, where every obstacle becomes a chance to innovate and drive positive outcomes amidst adversity.

My first concern will be the representative communicating on behalf of the client company. Since any project that comes to me is an extension of another project of the client, I need to save the heads of the people at my clientside with their commitments to their partners or internal client. The project whatever I obtained is through merit and quality and ofcourse by word of mouth campaigns. Still, if I come across an obstacle with my project, I know it will have an impact in delivery schedule and quality. As I don't want to lose my credibility in one project due to a rare complication, considering the reputation and goodwill I have earned in the industry, I will reframe the challenge at my favour.

Um outro aspecto importante para construir resiliência é cultivar uma rede de apoio sólida. Ter pessoas em quem confiar e que possam oferecer suporte emocional, conselhos práticos e encorajamento pode ser fundamental durante momentos difíceis. Buscar orientação e compartilhar experiências com colegas, amigos, familiares ou mentores pode ajudar a enfrentar desafios de forma mais eficaz e a manter uma perspectiva positiva. Além disso, estar aberto a ajudar os outros e contribuir para suas redes de apoio também fortalece os laços interpessoais e a resiliência coletiva.

Shift your perspective on the obstacles by reframing them as opportunities for growth and learning. View challenges as temporary setbacks rather than insurmountable barriers, allowing yourself to approach them with optimism and resilience.

In my journey navigating project challenges, I've emphasized the importance of seeking support and feedback from a diverse range of stakeholders. Whether collaborating with cross-functional teams or engaging with internal and external auditors, I prioritize open communication and collaboration. My experience in leading various aspects of billing, recovery, and statistics underscores my adeptness at fostering productive relationships to drive results. I firmly believe in proactively seeking feedback and leveraging insights from colleagues and mentors. This approach exemplifies resilience in action, empowering teams to collectively overcome obstacles and achieve success.

Whether the obstacle is resistance, a hard-to-reach goal, or uncharted terrain, get close to the people closest to the work. And listen. What’s working? What isn’t? Put this on repeat and you are already on your path forward.

I must emphasize the importance of drawing on your team's and stakeholders' collective intelligence. Engaging with diverse perspectives has been instrumental in uncovering unique solutions to complex problems in my projects. This practice enriches the project outcome and strengthens the team's cohesion and adaptability.

I'm usually really close with my project teams and always chat with them for advice. What I don’t do enough of is to catch up with my mentors and sponsors, who've taught me so much. When things get tricky, I reach out to them too, just to chat or get their take on things. It always helps!

Don't hesitate to reach out to colleagues, mentors, or stakeholders for support and guidance. Collaborate with your team to brainstorm solutions and gather valuable feedback on how to navigate the obstacles effectively.

In my approach to building resilience, I've always prioritized taking decisive action and adapting strategies in response to challenges. Whether it's streamlining reporting systems, implementing electronic receipt systems, or creating dashboards, I'm committed to finding innovative solutions. By closely monitoring progress, revising plans, and ensuring effective communication, I strive to exemplify resilience in project leadership, inspiring others to embrace change and drive success.

Develop a proactive plan of action to address the obstacles and mitigate their impact on the project. Break down the challenges into manageable tasks, prioritize actions based on their importance and urgency, and remain flexible in adjusting your approach as needed.

Change is Inevitable. One must be ready to accept it, Build strategy accordingly and decide one's actions suited to that particular situation. In today's VUCA world there is no single strategy that will suit all situations. Adapt, Strategieze, execute and record it.

Taking decisive action and being flexible enough to adjust based on outcomes have been a cornerstone of my approach to project management. This agility has allowed my teams to navigate uncertainties with greater confidence and efficiency, embodying the principle that adaptability is not just a strategy but a mindset.

One thing I have found helpful is that even in tough/unfortunate situations, we as a team can achieve exceptional results. The communication, adaptability and leadership is a key variable which needs to be more than adequate in these unforseen events. Also, team work and owning to the situation helps a lot. An event happened, agree to it/own it; however, that shouldn't drive our passion into darkness. I have been fortunate to work in relentless situations where we have acheieved the target well before in time even with having such obstacles.

After navigating various challenges in my professional journey, I've learned the importance of celebrating achievements and reflecting on learning. Whether overcoming obstacles in financial reporting or implementing innovative solutions, acknowledging the efforts of my team is crucial. By celebrating successes and rewarding resilience, we cultivate a culture of growth and recognition. Reflection allows for valuable insights to be gained, identifying strengths and areas for improvement. Integrating these reflections into future projects promotes continuous improvement, enhancing resilience and effectiveness as project leaders.

Um último ponto crucial para construir resiliência é manter uma visão de longo prazo e persistência. Reconheça que os desafios são temporários e que cada obstáculo superado o fortalece para enfrentar os próximos. Mantenha-se focado em seus objetivos de longo prazo e esteja preparado para enfrentar contratempos ao longo do caminho. Lembre-se de que a resiliência não se desenvolve da noite para o dia, mas sim através da prática contínua e da determinação em superar adversidades. Com uma mentalidade de persistência e um olhar para o futuro, você estará mais bem equipado para enfrentar e superar qualquer desafio que surgir em seu caminho.

Celebrate small victories and milestones along the way to maintain morale and motivation within the team. Additionally, take time to reflect on lessons learned from overcoming the obstacles, identifying areas for improvement, and incorporating feedback into your future project strategies.

Celebrating successes and reflecting on the journey is a practice I hold dear. It's an opportunity to acknowledge the team's hard work and distill valuable lessons from our achievements and setbacks. This practice has not only bolstered team morale but has also been crucial for continuous improvement and success in subsequent projects.

Remember that building resilience is an ongoing process that requires patience and perseverance. Focus on developing coping mechanisms and stress management techniques to navigate future challenges with confidence and composure. Additionally, cultivate a supportive team culture that encourages open communication, innovation, and adaptability in the face of adversity.

It's often about motivating the team to work together to solve the problem. We're not looking for rockstars or heroes here, instead it's a motivated and incentivised team working towards a common goal.

6. Projecting long term vision to build more resilient teams Think about it is great opportunity to deal with any obstacles In tech and business side, finding business researchers, tech research people, Performance engineering teams !! Those above teams can be found on hard days like obstacles !! Let the human explorartions of talent finding on the hard days, Share your thought leadership with your teams to find root cause analytics on your project obstacles ! Put the slots like 1 & 2 1. Once solved never come back obstacles 2. If problems keep arriving then refain the root cause analytics 2.1. During refainment You have to find understanding gaps in your teams 2.2. Encourage your team to investigate and push the refained values into 1.