Communications and Change Management

November 11—Most people think of processes, software tools and tracking mechanisms when the phrase 'change management' is mentioned. While all those things are important, there is another sometimes overlooked area, communication.

For project success, the manager needs to maintain good relationships and communicate effectively with stakeholders. This generally means there needs to be a good relationship with stakeholders. By understanding the stakeholder and their motives, it is possible to find hidden priorities—making the project run more smoothly and creating an environment that will better weather issues that may arise.

While a project stakeholder may present their priorities, there may be unstated priorities or objectives. It may be necessary to dig a bit deeper and find out what else is going on—so strong communications and a good relationship is critical.

Good relations also make it easier to manage expectations and present the impact of changing requirements. "That additional feature will require an extra two weeks and increase costs accordingly. What do you want to do?” While never easy, this kind of conversation will go over much better when stakeholders and project managers have a trusting relationship.

Back to E-Update Main

Latest E-Updates

Create a Low-Stress Work Environment Stress, unfortunately, is a fact of life. It can greatly affect a person's work and output. If you manage a team, you need to know how to best deal with work stress, both your own and that of your employees.

Essential Behaviors of High Performing Managers, Part 1 and Essential Behaviors of High Performing Managers, Part 2 Achieving a high level of performance is, for most managers, an ongoing and never-ending pursuit. While it can be difficult to pin down exactly what makes each individual person more or less effective, it is possible to identify generic elements of behavior which can significantly increase your chances of becoming a high performer.

Are You an Approachable Manager? Good managers are often defined by their approachability. If employees are comfortable with their manager, day-to-day tasks become more enjoyable and the overall work environment becomes more pleasant. Here are some tips.