What do you do if your business relationships are at risk and you're a project manager?

1 Assess Risks

When you notice signs of strain in a business relationship, start by conducting a thorough risk assessment. Identify the root causes of the tension and evaluate how these issues might affect your project's timeline, budget, and quality. Consider the interests and concerns of all stakeholders involved. This step is not just about problem identification; it's about understanding the implications for your project and preparing a strategic response that addresses the core issues without compromising your project's objectives.

2 Open Dialogue

Opening a dialogue is crucial when business relationships are strained. Reach out to the concerned parties and initiate a conversation focused on understanding their perspectives. Remember, effective communication is about listening as much as it is about speaking. By creating a space where concerns can be aired and discussed openly, you can begin to rebuild trust and work collaboratively towards a resolution that satisfies everyone involved.

3 Realign Goals

Sometimes, business relationships falter because of misaligned goals or expectations. As a project manager, it's your job to bring these into alignment. Facilitate sessions where all parties can express their objectives and work together to find common ground or compromise where necessary. This may involve revisiting the project's scope or deliverables to ensure they still meet the essential needs of each stakeholder while remaining feasible and realistic.

4 Implement Changes

After identifying the issues and realigning goals, it's time to implement changes to mend the relationship. This may involve adjusting project plans, reassigning roles, or introducing new processes to improve collaboration. Whatever the solution, it's important to act decisively and ensure that all parties are on board with the changes. Clear communication of how these changes will benefit the project and the relationship moving forward is key.

5 Monitor Progress

With changes in place, it's vital to monitor the progress of the relationship and the project. Set up regular check-ins with all stakeholders to ensure that the implemented changes are working and that no new issues have arisen. Use these opportunities to celebrate successes and address any ongoing concerns. Continuous monitoring helps to maintain the health of the business relationship and keeps the project on track.

6 Offer Support

Finally, offering support to all stakeholders is an important step in maintaining healthy business relationships. Whether it's providing additional resources, training, or simply being available for consultation, showing that you're committed to the success of the project and the well-being of the relationship can go a long way in alleviating tensions and fostering a collaborative environment. Remember, support is a two-way street; encourage stakeholders to support one another as well.