How do you seek guidance when facing project challenges?

1 Identify the problem

Before you seek guidance, you need to have a clear understanding of the problem you are facing. What is the root cause of the challenge? How does it affect your project goals, scope, and deliverables? What are the possible solutions or alternatives? How urgent and important is the problem? By identifying the problem, you can narrow down the scope of your inquiry and avoid wasting time and resources on irrelevant or trivial matters.

2 Choose the right source

Once you have identified the problem, you need to choose the right source of guidance. Depending on the nature and complexity of the challenge, you may need to consult different people or groups. For example, you may seek guidance from your project sponsor, your team members, your peers, your mentors, your clients, or external experts. You should consider the following factors when choosing the right source: their expertise, availability, credibility, trustworthiness, and relationship with you and the project.

3 Communicate clearly and respectfully

When you seek guidance, you should communicate clearly and respectfully with the source. You should explain the problem, the context, the impact, and the expected outcome. You should also ask specific and relevant questions, and listen actively and attentively to the responses. You should avoid making assumptions, blaming others, or being defensive. You should also express your appreciation and gratitude for the guidance, and follow up with any updates or feedback.

4 Evaluate and apply the guidance

After you receive the guidance, you should evaluate and apply it to your project challenge. You should not blindly accept or reject the guidance, but rather analyze it critically and objectively. You should consider the pros and cons, the risks and benefits, and the alignment with your project objectives and constraints. You should also test and validate the guidance, and monitor and measure the results. You should also document and share the guidance and the outcomes with your project stakeholders.

5 Learn and improve

Finally, you should use the guidance as an opportunity to learn and improve your project leadership skills. You should reflect on the challenge, the guidance, and the outcome, and identify what worked well and what can be improved. You should also seek feedback from the source and other stakeholders on your performance and behavior. You should also recognize and celebrate your achievements and successes, and acknowledge and address your mistakes and failures.

Seeking guidance when facing project challenges is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength and professionalism. By following these tips, you can seek guidance effectively and appropriately, and use it to enhance your project outcomes and your project leadership skills.

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?