All projects will run into chaos at some point but it’s not the problem it’s the solution that is key. But if you manage projects effectively and efficiently at the start and plan properly then you can avoid and alleviate damaging levels of project chaos. Some helpful tips below

• Trust your project management skills and use them appropriately. Remember as a project manager you have the natural ability to work in all scenarios, across multiple industries and using multiple methodologies, trust and use this knowledge to manage the chaos.

• Make sure to build the trust of your key stakeholders so that when chaos hits the project, they will trust you to steer the project back in the right direction.

• Project chaos can hit at any time and in any phase but remember as a project manager you have the flexibility that very few other disciplines have and use this to help guide the project back on track.

• The definition of insanity can be doing the same thing and expecting different results, when chaos hits don’t revert to type, assess the situation in front of you and use your skills to execute the solution that will end the chaos.

• Communication is a fundamental project management skill, adapt your style if necessary but make sure to put stakeholders at ease with effective and simple language to alleviate their concerns and articulate the best strategy to end the chaos and get the project back on track.

• The balance between listening and talking is key, effective listening will make sure you understand the current project predicament and can make the transition back to normality easier and quicker.

• Remember senior C-Suite stakeholders don’t have the necessary project skills to guide projects back from chaos, they need you the project manager to show your worth, don’t let them make decisions that exacerbate the problem.

• Remember chaos can be avoided with good planning at the beginning of each project and implementing the correct structures, if you as a project manager have the authority to implement good structures then use this, if you don’t try to advise as appropriate.

• Organisations need to pick and procure the correct systems, if they don’t and try to fit square pegs into round holes then chaos is inevitable.

• Report on all aspects of project progress correctly and don’t ignore or report incorrectly on difficult phases or projects within programs.

• Requirements gathering is arguably the most important part of any deliverable, get this wrong and chaos will follow and delays are certain.

• Crucially don’t under resource the project, every project within reason needs good business analysts, solution architects, test managers and most importantly project managers.

• Do not put individuals into project positions without the necessary experience and knowledge, for example sales managers are not project or program managers.

• Understand the full scope of your project, manage it properly and avoid scope creep, deliver the agreed baselined requirements.

• Don’t sweat the small stuff, it doesn’t matter, monitor the risks that can damage your project and any issues that do arise find the necessary solution and mitigation quickly, do this and chaos and project escalations can be minimised.

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