Why did my project get derailed?
Aniisu K Verghese Ph.D.
I help organisations, leaders and teams to communicate with clarity, connect employees to the purpose, enhance reputations, and embrace change | Author | Speaker | Global Digital Workplace Expert | Australia based
The Curious Case of the Derailed Internal Communications Project
Morris and Iris are colleagues at Table Talk Inc’s Corporate Communications team. They have worked for a few years and partnered on key initiatives. One Monday afternoon Iris enters the cafeteria and notices Morris slumped in his chair with his coffee untouched. He looks dejected and defeated. Iris taps him on the shoulder.
Iris: “What’s the matter? Are you all right?”
Morris: “Well, I can’t say I am fine. Quite disappointed with all that’s happened.”
Iris: “You mean the High Life platform project?”
Morris: “Yes. That one. I did everything possible to ensure the platform was ready on time for launch….and now…they tell me….(his voice trailing).
Iris: “Tell you what?”
Morris: “That, Vignesh and Stella aren’t fine with the features and we need to go back to the drawing board? It puts all the plans in disarray.”
Iris: “Oh, that’s awful! Drawing board? You spent 6 months on the project already.”
Morris: “I know. I did everything I thought was right. Preparing the plan, getting the budgets signed off, putting the wireframe in place, working with the development team to create the platform and getting ready for launch”.
Iris: “And you got all stakeholders aligned before hand?”
Morris: “I mailed the group the plan months ago and didn’t hear from them all. Some responded and some didn’t. I can’t be waiting for everyone to respond, right? Do I need to be including all views? That will kill the platform!”
Iris: “Hmm. Did you get buy-in of key leaders?”
Morris: “I did mail them about the urgency to get started. They are all aware of the timelines.”
Iris: “But did you gain consensus? Or at least let them know you were progressing with the project?”
Morris: “They are adults, right? They are as responsible as I am to know that they have mails waiting for them in their inboxes. Why can’t they check it and respond? Why must I be following up and asking them to respond on each action?”
Iris: “You have a point. Although it was in your best interest to get them aligned.”
Morris: “I am the owner of the platform and manage it end-to-end. Now, if most of them are fine, then what must I do? I can’t please everyone and wait for a go-ahead from all. I am working hard, if not harder than everyone. Why do I need to chase up and get alignment when they are also party to the platform? When will I do my work if I have to mollycoddle others to get them to do their part?”
Iris: “Well, do you know why the project hit a roadblock?”
Morris: “Roadblock? What do you mean? I did everything right, didn’t I? The months of hard work in vain? What is the meaning of this, Iris?”
Iris: “Why don’t you mull over the project’s journey and think about what you could have done to ensure success. Let’s talk tomorrow. I need to rush now for my meeting. See you soon”.
What is the underlying issue on hand? How did Morris get into this muddle? What must he do to recover from this situation? For internal communicators, what is the role of ‘selling’ your work to stakeholders? I invite you to reflect on this case study and questions and share your thoughts to help Morris. Interested in your thoughts. For more such cases, visit my blog www.aniisu.com
Have other topics you want me to write on? Drop me a note at [email protected]
#internalcomms #internalcommunications #sellingyourwork #credibility #programsuccess #relationships #stakeholdermanagement
Here are Internal Communications resources you can use:
· Learn: Internal Communications Fundamentals Course on Thinkific and Udemy
· Internal Communications Series: https://forms.gle/KcqmPzLwq7NQi5Km6
· Chat with Aniisu – Internal Communications: https://www.instamojo.com/intraskope/connect-with-aniisu-60-minute-personalized-d/?ref=store
· Internal Communications workshops: https://bit.ly/2zdBRl1
Communication Strategist| Storyteller
4 年This is a perennial challenge especially if you have multiple stakeholders and chasing them for approval becomes an active part of your project mgmt. I can totally relate to Morris when he says he can't be following up and people should be more responsible about their deliverables. Delegating a team member to actively followup with stakeholder, setting up periodical meetings to keep it active alive, sending weekly updates are some ways in which you can keep reminding the stakeholders and passively influence them to do their bit. Great piece as usual Aniisu!?
Communications Specialist | Diversity & Inclusion Evangelist | Values & Culture Advocate
4 年It is imperative to have a buy in from key stakeholders, beneficiaries of the project. As a communicator, it becomes our job to connect, align, achieve and go beyond if situation demands so. By just mailing out details without an ask, working under the assumption that everyone has understood and read the mail can be disastrous. Build allies in your network as you begin on a project. No feat is celebratory unless you have done it in unison. More than personal objectives, one should keep the organisational objectives above and see the difference!
Development Communication I Corporate Communication I Content Strategy I Brand Strategy I Social Media
4 年Very important challenge captured very well Aniisu. I too can totally relate to Morris; in some instances approvals and views are required not only from internal stakeholders but external as well. It can be time-consuming. It helps to identify key decision makers and chase them for their approval. Getting every important stakeholder’s buy in is next to impossible often. And it helps to send a mail according to your internal deadlines requesting the stakeholders for their feedback by a particular deadline, stating that post that deadline you will be going ahead with the next level of work assuming this is okay by all (in the interest of meeting project deadlines). Doesn’t always work, but in most cases it does, especially if you have the approval of the key stakeholders you have identified.