Mitigate Risk and Boost Project Success
Risk is part of the game in project management. No matter how much planning you do, projects rarely go the way you expect. The good news? Identifying and managing risk early can make all the difference in the world.
Knowing what the most common project management risks are, and knowing how to plan for them will help you avoid so many headaches. After all, the goal is a project that flourishes, not flounders!
Let’s break down some of the most common project management risks and teach you how to tackle them before they snowball.
Risk #1: Resource constraints
I always say that people power projects, but those people – your resources – don’t just work on your project. They’ll have other things competing for their time and attention, and they might even be pulled away to work on something else. That can leave the rest of the team stressed out and struggling to perform.
With the right planning, you can minimize the impact of this risk. Think carefully about your resources from day one, and plan them out in your:
- Scope statement
- Project charter
- WBS action plan
This will help you clearly see whether the available team members will be able to complete their tasks on time, or whether you’ll need additional resources – and then you can plan accordingly.
Risk #2: Resistance to change
People prefer the comfort of what’s familiar over the uncertainty of something new, so it’s not uncommon for stakeholders to push back against change. Unfortunately, that can lead to delays, friction, and poor productivity.
You can avoid the impact of this risk by setting up a structured change management process. That will help you to:
- Prepare for change
- Plan and manage change
- Reinforce and sustain change
3 more common risks to avoid
I have more to share with you about the most common project management risks, so I put together a video that explains them all in detail. It explains how to avoid:
- Project timelines that lead to rushed, poor quality work
- Additions that take your project off track
- Misunderstandings and conflict that take a project sideways
Follow me over to YouTube and we’ll keep chatting about this!
I go way more in-depth on risk management in my SLAY Project Management online course where I show you step-by-step how to successfully manage a project. You’ll get every template you will need, including a risk management template, along with detailed video instructions on how to fill them out.
Adriana Girdler, PMP | Creator of Slay Project Management™
“This certification course exceeded my expectations in every way. What sets it apart is its focus on practical application – the comprehensive templates and real-world examples have already proven invaluable in my day-to-day work, especially the structured approach to project planning and risk management. An outstanding investment.” CO
