How can you avoid the risks of laissez-faire project leadership?

1 Assess the project context

Before you decide to adopt a laissez-faire project leadership style, you need to assess the context and characteristics of your project, such as the scope, complexity, urgency, and stakeholder expectations. You also need to evaluate the skills, experience, motivation, and preferences of your project team members. A laissez-faire project leadership style may work well for projects that are highly creative, innovative, or exploratory, and for teams that are self-directed, competent, and confident. However, it may not be suitable for projects that are highly structured, regulated, or critical, and for teams that need more guidance, support, or feedback.

2 Set clear goals and expectations

Even if you choose to give your project team members a lot of autonomy and freedom, you still need to set clear goals and expectations for the project outcomes, deliverables, and quality standards. You also need to communicate the project vision, mission, and strategy, and ensure that everyone understands and aligns with them. You need to define the roles and responsibilities of each team member, and the scope and boundaries of their authority and decision-making. You need to establish the reporting and communication protocols, and the frequency and format of project updates and reviews.

3 Provide feedback and recognition

One of the common pitfalls of laissez-faire project leadership is the lack of feedback and recognition for the project team members. This can lead to low morale, motivation, and performance, as well as missed opportunities for learning and improvement. To avoid this, you need to provide regular, constructive, and timely feedback to your project team members, and acknowledge their achievements, contributions, and challenges. You also need to create a culture of feedback and recognition within the team, and encourage peer-to-peer feedback and appreciation.

4 Monitor and intervene when necessary

Another common risk of laissez-faire project leadership is the loss of control and oversight over the project progress, performance, and quality. This can result in delays, errors, conflicts, or deviations from the project objectives and expectations. To avoid this, you need to monitor and intervene when necessary, and provide guidance, support, or direction to your project team members. You need to track the project milestones, deliverables, and indicators, and identify any issues, risks, or changes that may affect the project. You need to facilitate problem-solving, decision-making, and conflict resolution within the team, and escalate any critical or complex issues to the relevant stakeholders.

5 Adapt and adjust your leadership style

Finally, you need to recognize that laissez-faire project leadership is not a one-size-fits-all approach, and that you may need to adapt and adjust your leadership style depending on the situation, the phase, or the needs of the project and the team. You need to be flexible and responsive to the changing dynamics and demands of the project environment, and use different leadership styles or techniques as appropriate. For example, you may need to use a more directive or supportive style when initiating or closing a project, or when dealing with a crisis or a conflict. You may also need to use a more participative or collaborative style when planning or executing a project, or when engaging with stakeholders or customers.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?