When it rains, it pours. Toronto is currently recovering from a record amount of rainfall, which knocked out power and left many stranded.
Disasters in project management isnâ²t the same thing as a city in distress, but the same lessons still apply:
Stay Calm
When things start to look bad, itâ²s important to keep your cool and think. Rash decisions can land you in deeper water than before. This is true whether youâ²re driving down the road or driving a project forward. And donâ²t forget that you need to keep others calm too.
Be Prepared
I donâ²t know about you, but my kitchen wasnâ²t stocked for storm situations, and so last night we dined on yogurt and cold noodles. Preparation can save you a lot of griefand may even save the day! Cloud storage, backup generators, duplicate fileseach of these redundancies can help the project weather the storm intact.
Have a Backup Plan
Most people get into trouble in emergency situations because they have no idea what to do. We flounder and fumble because we have no direction. But having a backup plan of actioneven a basic one like call this number or meet up here is enough to make a difference. Of course, if you have a more detailed or comprehensive contingency plan, thatâ²s even better!
Learn to Compromise
Youâ²re headed home, but the subwayâ²s down and the roads are flooded. Which is smarter, braving the waters and rain, or finding shelter somewhere close? When disaster strikes, sometimes itâ²s no longer possible to meet your original goal. Work with your team and client to find a suitable compromise based on what resources you can realistically use.
Communication Saves
Whether itâ²s up to the minute status updates or regular contact between teams, clear and timely communication is essential for tackling any disaster. Project managers need to know whatâ²s going on if theyâ²re to properly manage a bad situation, and communicate with the team working to resolve it. And donâ²t forget, clients need to know whatâ²s going on, too!
Help is Where You Ask for It
Unless your situation is extremely dire, most rescue crews will expect you to fend for yourself. The same thing applies to project management. If you need help, ask. Otherwise, your co-workers may assume that youâ²ve got the situation well in hand.
So the next time problems start raining down, keep the above tips in mind. Hopefully itâ²ll help you weather the storm and keep you on course.
