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Silence Fails, a research endeavor by David Maxwell, Vital Smarts, finds that projects suffer when team members fail to have the crucial conversations they need to have. Projects @ Work picked up the research writing about it in Crucial Conversations.

"One of the keys to successful project management is holding the right conversations on the right issues at the right times."

The article identifies five conversations that project teams need to have to be successful. The findings are the result of research Maxwell did starting with people standing in line. He first asked people what would they do if someone cut in front of them in line. 95% said they would speak up. Then Maxwell secretly watched the same people as someone cut them in line. Surprisingly, the majority didn't say anything. With further research Maxwell identified five crucial conversations that could make a difference on projects.

1. Do we confront an AWOL sponsor?
2. Do we challenge arbitrary deadlines and inadequate resources?
3. Do we confront people who are inappropriately influencing priorities?
4. Do we deal with ineffective or absent team members?
5. Do we openly discuss problems before they cause failure?

I can't argue with the researchers. Project team members need to speak up on projects. And as the research showed, people don't speak up. Our less than scientific studies corroborates their results. We've termed two behaviors Two Great Wastes™¹: not speaking and not listening. These behaviors are responsible for significant waste on projects.

We don't have to live with these wastes. Project managers and team members can interrupt the pattern by just speaking. That might seem to be risky. (It certainly can feel risky.) But keeping quiet is far more risky.

Here's one thing to remember. Adopt an unconditionally positive stance when speaking (and listening). Operate from a concern for keeping the promise of the project. When you take care of the client and the promise(s) you made to the client you can't go wrong. Don't attack people. Instead, express your concern or worry that continuing on the current path might lead to failure. And if you get chastised for speaking up, then you know you are on the wrong project.

1. Trademark of Hal Macomber. Use is permitted with appropriate reference. [ ⇑ back ]