The Phantom Menace: What to Do if Someone is Trying to Undermine Your Project?
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- čas přidán 20. 02. 2022
- Sponsors are supposed to promote and protect your project. But what if there is someone out there who is trying to do just the opposite? Usually, they will be operating from the shadows to undermine your project. Let’s call them The Phantom Menace…
Articles about dealing with tricky problems arising from your Project Sponsor.
How to Handle a Difficult Project Sponsor: [7 Different Types]
onlinepmcourses.com/difficult...
What if your sponsor is actively undermining your project?
Rogue Project Sponsor: What to Do when Sponsorship goes Bad
onlinepmcourses.com/rogue-pro...
But there's a possibility these don't address...
This was deliberate. Because I wanted to keep the article about rogue sponsors.
What if someone else in the sponsoring organization is working against your project?
We know that organizational projects need substantial top-level support, to succeed. But what if someone is trying to undermine your project? But they are doing it in an underhand - or even covert - way?
So, what can you do about it?
You need to expose the phantom menace in your midst.
The best approach is to recognize that no one can undermine a project on their own. They do it by influencing others. Either by:
• persuading other stakeholders, or
• trying to win over one or more of your team.
That's politics.
Project Politics
So, for a project manager who thinks politics is not part of your role: you are wrong. A big part of your job is to strengthen and maintain relationships all across your project.
- This is why I have not just written about the subject: onlinepmcourses.com/project-p...
- I have also done a short video (Get to grips with Project Politics) • Get to Grips with Proj...
- And I did a Livestream about it: • Projects and Politics:...
It may have a bad name for you, but politics is something you need to get used to.
'Wherever there are two people in a room... you have politics'
Slowly, gently, start taking the steps you need to take. Build your network of influence across and around your project. It's the safest course, to prevent, spot, and deal with a phantom menace.
Recommended Videos
Carefully curated video recommendations for you:
🎬 Building a Working Relationship with Your Project Sponsor - With Jonathan Norman • Building a Working Rel...
🎬 Working with Your Project Sponsor: 5 Tips • Working with Your Proj...
🎬 Project Politics: How to Win The Game of Projects • Project Politics: How ...
🎬 Get to Grips with Project Politics • Get to Grips with Proj...
🎬 Projects and Politics: Navigating the Interfaces • Projects and Politics:...
A while back, I asked Project Managers in a couple of forums what material things you need to have, to do your job as a Project Manager. They responded magnificently. I compiled their answers into a Kit list.
kit.co/MikeClayton/what-a-pro...
Note that the links are affiliated.
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#Project #ProjectManagement #PhantomMenace
Expose the Phantom menace in your midst. It's usually a senior person working against your project. Probably posing as a supporter.
Thank you for watching - please do subscribe to the channel and, to join my community, sign-up at onlinepmcourses.com/assets440251/the-onlinepmcourses-newsletter/
Sometimes also a jealous project member may undermine the project manager thus influencing the sponsors and other important stakeholders by worsening their trust to the project manager.
That's a very good point. It can happen and it will feel like a betrayal. So the best thing you can do is meet with them as soon as you find out, and talk it out. And, by talking it out, I mean 'listen it out' too.
I am about to launch a hospital wide project and I have 3 people working against it. Go live is set for tomorrow. Thank you for this!!!
I may feel a little pleased to be timely for you, but overwhelmingly sad that 3 people are working against a project that others are working hard to deliver. My best wishes to you.
There was that time when my sponsor asked me “Did you ever hear the tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise?” That should have been a red flag… 😉
Great video Mike (and I love the thumbnail!)
Everything that has transpired has been according to my plan.
@@Onlinepmcourses The study of project management is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be unnatural!
@@InfluentialPMO Young fool. Only now, at the end, do you understand.
@@Onlinepmcourses Execute order 66!
@@InfluentialPMO There is a great disturbance in the force.
You have explained it excellent ! We just have to understand the situation and the strategy depends what is going on the ground. Sponsors are usually good at using their power and finance to influence many people , it is therefore necessary either to find smart way to buy-pass or outsmart or expose them and deal with the bad motive. What do u say Dr Mike ?
You can't usually deal with 'bad motives'. All you can hope to do here is look for an overlap of interests. Try to find one small aspect of the project that interests them and meets their needs or priorities. Then give them a part to play in shaping that part of the project. Once they feel involved, they will be more likely to relax their opposition to other aspects (if you are lucky) or, at least, to keep their opposition to a more private forum. Then, you will need to discipline yourself to give them a good listening-to from time to time. Sometimes people just need to feel they are being heard.
Almost no substance here. Just redirects to other videos. Expecting better.
my apologoes.