Every project manager knows just how stressful it can be to handle damage control in cases of distress. There’s plenty of challenges that must be overcome for a successful project crisis management, and here are some of the best practices that every project manager can benefit from.
1. Assess your risks and have a plan in place
The first and most important thing is to have a plan in place to help you deal with a crisis. Before you go ahead with the project, you need to make sure that you already assessed your risks and came up with contingency plans for every possible scenario. This prepares you and your team for the worst.
Despite how important a crisis management plan is, many companies still don’t have it. Make sure you don’t make the same deadly mistake.
2. Be calm and optimistic
When things don’t go as planned, it can be difficult to stay hopeful, but try to be. Doing so will be a whole lot more helpful and productive than freaking out. As a project manager, you must remain clear-headed so that you can provide your team with the support and guidance they require.
3. Try to contain the crisis as much as possible
A practical step that shouldn’t be missed is containing the crisis. Some degree of damage is already done, but don’t let it spread any further. To achieve this, you must be able to think clearly and act quickly, while also effectively managing all communication channels.
4. Identify the cause of the crisis
After you are successful in preventing the crisis from spreading, you should identify what exactly caused it. Only when you know the reason can you take the necessary steps to repair the damage and get everyone on your team back on track.
5. Make sure to keep employees informed
Even in the face of a crisis, don’t neglect your employees. You should keep them informed so that they know those in charge are doing everything to handle the situation. This encourages them to keep the business process going as smoothly as possible.
6. Remember to keep everyone updated regularly
Not just employees, but suppliers, partners, customers, and other parties involved should be updated frequently. This keeps everyone calm and in the loop while preventing rumors from spreading.
7. Revisit the plan as required
Once you’ve successfully managed the crisis, don’t forget to go back to your plan and make any required changes. If you find that something works better, don’t hesitate to update.
