Bad Project Execution – Early Warning Signs

Good project leaders are always on the lookout for ways to complete their project on time and on budget with happy team members and satisfied clients. Taken directly from project post mortems in leading high tech and professional services firms, keep an eye out for these early warning signs and be prepared to adjust your approach before your project falls off the tracks:

• Not in the Zone: While the project team is working pretty well together, it is having a difficult time jelling, taking advantage of strengths and weaknesses, and setting the stage for success. It is never too late to reset expectations and get back on the same page.
• Mixed Levels of Trust: You are noticing varying degrees of trust regarding people’s skills, knowledge, and attitudes that is diminishing your project team’s ability to solve problems and have a healthy (and inevitable) conflict resolution.
• Rise in Stakeholder Confusion: While there is fairly good communication among the team, internal and external stakeholders are often confused regarding direction, decisions, coordination, status, or information.
• Invisible Project Sponsor: If your project sponsor begins to distance him or herself from you and your project, take note. If you sense this is happening to you, take immediate steps to identify and fix the problem.