Written by: Nelly Eziashi, MBA, PMP
Two key approaches stand out in the world of project management: proactive and reactive projects. Proactive projects follow a well-planned path from the start, aiming for clear, anticipated goals. Reactive projects, however, arise suddenly, often addressing urgent needs or crises. Though both methods can succeed, reactive projects bring unique challenges, including heightened stress and increased risk of failure.
Presentation Overview 
Not all projects enjoy the luxury of stability and ample planning time. Sometimes, immediate action is needed, and plans must change on the fly. In this discussion, the audience received some practical tips and tricks for handling high-stakes, time-sensitive scenarios. Insights were shared on prioritizing tasks, identifying risks, and communicating effectively. Below are some of those learning:
- Staying Vigilant and Prepared:
- A Project Manager must stay alert, anticipating potential issues. Look out for early warning signs: persistent complaints, rumors, high turnover, or resistance to change. Recognizing these signs can save a project from missing its deadline.
- Containing the Crisis:
- When a crisis hits, identify the cause quickly. Understand what happened, its full impact, and possible consequences. Your goal is to contain the crisis swiftly. Get accurate information, assess the damage, and determine if it might spread. If preventing a crisis isn’t possible, containing it is critical.
- Acting Quickly and Decisively:
- After identifying the crisis, act fast and decisively. Communicate clearly at all levels of the organization. Transparency and speed are key to minimizing the crisis’s impact and steering the project back on course.
Successfully handling a crisis can boost your career. After a crisis, document "lessons learned" and recommendations. Thorough post-crisis analysis is vital for improving future crisis responses. Examples of types of business crises:
- The Fire Drill: Sudden issues requiring immediate action
- The Grenade: Explosive problems with wide-reaching impact
- The Black Swan: Rare, unpredictable events with severe consequences
Takeaways
- Face Reality: Acknowledge, communicate urgency and take charge
- Make Quick Decisions: Act swiftly and thoughtfully, but skip deep analysis
- Drive Actions: Track progress and flag risks and delays
- Team Communication: Coordinate and adapt tasks; update stakeholders accurately
Next Event
Join us at the next PMI Atlanta Healthcare Forum on Wednesday, September 18, 2024
Keynote Presentation: "Project Management with a Clinical-Academic-Community-Corporate Partnership" by Erin Ferranti
Register at www.pmiatlanta.org/events/event-calendar
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