You have a team member who isn't following project management methodology. How do you get them back on track?

So, I remember this one time when I noticed that one of my team members was struggling a bit. We were knee-deep in a project, and it seemed like they were having a tough time keeping up with our project management methods. It was pretty clear that something wasn't quite clicking, and it was affecting our progress.

Assess the Situation: Before taking any action, it's important to understand why my team member isn't following the project management methodology. Is it due to a lack of understanding, or disagreement with the methodology, or perhaps they're facing challenges in implementing it? Gathering this information will help you tailor your approach. It did, when a team member was what seems to be lost in the project at hand, this helped to get the individual back in line, issues that were not even related due to life challenges, just having empathy and display of emotional intelligence made a lot difference.

I wanted to make sure they understood how important it was for us to all be on the same page with our project management approach. I explained why sticking to our methods was crucial for our success, and I could see they appreciated the honesty and clarity.

Schedule a one-on-one meeting with the team member and discuss our concerns in a constructive manner. Communicate the importance of adhering to the project management methodology and how it contributes to the project's success. Ensure they understand their role in following established processes. Remind them of how important the project is and the need to avoid risk so it can meet the client's needs and everybody is happy.

After our chat, I realized they might need a bit more help getting up to speed. So, I offered to walk them through some of the processes, showing them step by step how things should be done. It felt good to be able to offer that support, knowing it could make a real difference for them and for our team.

If the team member lacks understanding of the methodology, training sessions or resources are offered to help them grasp the concepts better. Providing support in implementing the methodology by offering guidance, answering questions, or pairing them with a more experienced team member. As a project manager, it's crucial to lead by example and consistently demonstrate adherence to the project management methodology myself. This sets a positive tone for the team and reinforces the importance of following established processes.

Over the next few weeks, I kept a close eye on how they were doing. I didn't want to hover or micromanage, but I also didn't want them to feel like they were on their own. We scheduled regular check-ins where we could chat about any challenges they were facing and celebrate their progress.

Keep track of the team member's adherence to the project management methodology over time. Provide regular feedback and guidance as needed to ensure they stay on track. Celebrate successes and provide recognition for improvements made. If efforts to get the team member back on track are unsuccessful or if the situation escalates, seek assistance from higher management, or the Program manager. They may provide additional support or interventions to address the issue effectively.

I'll never forget the sense of pride I felt when I saw how far they'd come. It wasn't always easy, but by working together and supporting each other, we were able to overcome the challenges and deliver some truly fantastic work. It just goes to show the power of communication, empathy, and a little bit of patience.