13.16 Bearing Bad News

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13.16 Bearing Bad News

One of the most common and egregious errors a project manager can make when working with customers and beneficiaries is avoiding conflict. True, it is normal to dislike incurring the displeasure of others or to knowingly introduce controversy into these relationships. On the other hand, it is highly likely that the bad news will get to them somehow, despite your efforts to sanitize or bury it. Someone on your own team may let it slip by accident or on purpose if they happen to enjoy stirring the pot. Customers and beneficiaries make it their business to sniff out trouble and may, in fact, uncover it before it comes to your attention. In large corporations, relationships can go way back. So, you never know who used to work for whom and who shares information even though they are presently on opposite sides of the organizational fence.

If customers or beneficiaries come to believe, fairly or not, that you have been stonewalling them, your troubles may just be starting. Therefore, it makes sense to address potential controversies proactively and seek their partnership in resolving them. It is best to take your pain in little doses, starting as early as possible. If you do, there is a much-improved chance to build good working relationships and avoid looking like Captain Smith right after the Titanic crashed into that iceberg.



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Complex IT project management(c) 16 steps to success
Complex IT Project Management: 16 Steps to Success
ISBN: 0849319323
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2004
Pages: 231
Authors: Peter Schulte

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