Ever had a client or stakeholder try to get one over on you? Usually, I try not to take it too seriously and realize everyone is doing the best they can. No, I’m not just talking about the occasional white lie, or the “I’ll have it tomorrow”, or ducking out and going très tranquille before popping up with that status, deliverable or test result you’ve been asking for très longtemps.
I’m talking about uncovering something earth shattering – like the one where Ross finds out his sister and best friend are hooking up. It has the potential to upend your business process or worse – reputation with said culprit thinking that you don’t know.
There are countless examples of uber companies (no pun intended) being felled by one or two cocky individuals who assumed they were:
- a. untouchable
- b. more important than everyone else affected
- c. unqualified as leaders
- d. or, all of the above
Which can have devastating consequences to your business clients, revenue, executive leadership or — you. That’s right. What do you do when you’re in the sucky position of having to bring it to light?
Uber’s founder and CEO was kicked off his perch in what seemed like an instant. In a Lemony Snickett-like series of unfortunate events. The company he founded, his passion, and arguably one of the most crucial services the world over — was toppled by a blog post. It may have seemed like an “instant”, but no doubt was the result of constant stress and a heartfelt attempt find solutions on the part of its author. She is owed a huge debt of gratitude, for taking the challenge on and really, really trying. And effort that ended up forcing her out anyway. Yet the light at the end of the tunnel is always consistent.
As project managers and PMO leaders, no doubt we’ve run into this on projects. If you haven’t, the go forth and get more projects under your belt. For nothing is a truer initiation – I don’t care what the PMBOK tells you.
What do you do when you face this? The countless hours of hand wringing and sleep loss in trying to come up with a deft solution are often yours, and yours alone. And then there are those who dive headlong into the issue and blow up spots, leaving carnage everywhere. No doubt they are right, but then face the twin monsters of retaliation and snitch-e-quences as I like to call them. Both paths require a strong stomach and an even stronger constitution. But you must have it. The best of us will navigate this well and find win-win solutions.
Miss PMO is intermixed currently in one such situation, where the story remains unwritten and the impact remains…developing. I do know this, however: truth and integrity will prevail.
We are at the equivalent of the Phoebe-Chandler standoff and Joey just unbuttoned my blouse.
Bring it on.
MissPMO 
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