What are the risks of not investing in project communication capacity building?

1 Risk 1: Misalignment of expectations and objectives

One of the risks of not investing in project communication capacity building is that the project stakeholders and team members may have different or unclear expectations and objectives about the project scope, deliverables, timeline, budget, quality, and risks. This can lead to confusion, conflicts, delays, rework, and dissatisfaction among the project participants. To avoid this risk, project managers need to invest in developing a clear and comprehensive project communication plan that defines the communication goals, methods, frequency, roles, and responsibilities for each project phase and stakeholder group. They also need to invest in training and coaching the team members on how to communicate effectively with different audiences and how to use the appropriate communication tools and channels.

2 Risk 2: Lack of stakeholder engagement and feedback

Another risk of not investing in project communication capacity building is that the project stakeholders may not be sufficiently engaged and informed about the project progress, issues, and achievements. This can result in a lack of feedback, support, and buy-in from the stakeholders, which can affect the project quality, scope, and acceptance. To avoid this risk, project managers need to invest in developing a stakeholder engagement strategy that identifies the stakeholder needs, interests, expectations, and influence on the project. They also need to invest in creating and delivering engaging and relevant project communication materials and messages that address the stakeholder concerns and expectations and solicit their feedback and input.

3 Risk 3: Loss of trust and credibility

A third risk of not investing in project communication capacity building is that the project manager and the team may lose trust and credibility among the project stakeholders and external parties. This can happen if the project communication is inconsistent, inaccurate, incomplete, or misleading. This can damage the reputation and relationship of the project manager and the team and affect their ability to influence and negotiate with the stakeholders and external parties. To avoid this risk, project managers need to invest in developing a project communication quality assurance process that ensures the accuracy, completeness, timeliness, and relevance of the project communication. They also need to invest in establishing and following ethical and professional standards and guidelines for project communication.

4 Risk 4: Inefficient and ineffective communication

A fourth risk of not investing in project communication capacity building is that the project communication may be inefficient and ineffective, resulting in wasted time, resources, and opportunities. This can happen if the project communication is too frequent, too sparse, too complex, too simple, or too ambiguous. This can cause information overload, confusion, misunderstanding, or missed information among the project participants. To avoid this risk, project managers need to invest in developing a project communication optimization process that evaluates and adjusts the project communication according to the project needs, changes, and feedback. They also need to invest in learning and applying best practices and techniques for project communication, such as using clear and concise language, using visual aids, using active listening, and using feedback loops.

5 Risk 5: Reduced team collaboration and performance

A fifth risk of not investing in project communication capacity building is that the project team may experience reduced collaboration and performance due to poor communication. This can happen if the project team members have different communication styles, preferences, or barriers, or if they do not communicate enough, openly, or respectfully with each other. This can affect the team cohesion, morale, motivation, and productivity. To avoid this risk, project managers need to invest in developing a team communication culture that fosters trust, respect, and inclusion among the team members. They also need to invest in facilitating and encouraging regular and effective team communication, such as using team meetings, team chats, team feedback, and team recognition.