PMcrunch

Risk and uncertainty is part of the territory for effective leaders.  Certainty simply does not exist for effective leadership, since if it did, leadership would not be needed!  Whether in executive leadership or project leadership, it is the ability of the leader to manage uncertainties that most defines success.

Part of what is required of us as individuals, leaders, and project managers is to let go of the need to be right and certain all of the time.  Unencumbered by the need to be right, we as leaders can turn ambiguity into discovery and innovation.  This in turn can unleash the creative juices for problem solving on our team.  Invite your people into what you don’t know, and partner with them to find solutions.  Leverage your team and make the most of the talent you have on hand.  Leading by questioning and challenging is smart leadership!

Here are 5 more specific and situational places where you can exercise effective project leadership through questioning:

1. When you are uncertain about the purpose of the project, ask, and emphasize the importance.
2. Encourage your team members to ask questions about various portions of the project, and use this as a further check to be sure you have covered all bases.  Don’t be afraid to admit you don’t know the answer all of the time, and be thankful for the opportunity to get clarification.
3. Recognize that dealing with uncertainty is actually the job of all managers, and that dealing with uncertainties on your project is your responsibility.
4. Recognize that upper management does not have all of the answers, and offer, when appropriate, to include initiatives within your project that can bring clarity to uncertain issues.
5. Plan up front for some level of uncertainty, and identify some specific issues about which you are sure you need to probe further.  Build time into the project for uncovering these answers, to later allow the project to unfold with greater certainty.

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John Reiling, PMP
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