Unexpected design changes are delaying your project. How do you keep team morale high?
When unexpected design changes delay your project, staying positive and supportive can help keep your team motivated. Consider these strategies:
What are your go-to methods for maintaining team morale during project delays? Share your thoughts.
Unexpected design changes are delaying your project. How do you keep team morale high?
When unexpected design changes delay your project, staying positive and supportive can help keep your team motivated. Consider these strategies:
What are your go-to methods for maintaining team morale during project delays? Share your thoughts.
-
Having worked in the oil and gas industry for over a decade, I've experienced numerous last-minute design change requests from customers that can significantly impact project schedules. The key is perspective: we should not view design changes as hurdles or project stoppers. In customized engineering solutions, design changes are inevitable—and often, they're a healthy sign of detailed engineering and deep client involvement. The most successful teams prepare for uncertainty. When scheduling, always build in buffer time for contingency plans and potential revisions. This approach transforms potential frustration into proactive problem-solving, maintaining team resilience and motivation even when project timelines shift.
-
Design pivots are natural stepping stones towards innovation. When changes occur, I focus on framing them as opportunities to strengthen our design. I meet with the team on a regular basis to share fast successes and encourage open communication so that concerns can be addressed proactively. We sustain momentum and increase our problem-solving talents by approaching each obstacle as a learning opportunity for professional development.
Rate this article
More relevant reading
-
InterviewingWhat do you do if your team members are not understanding your vision?
-
Problem SolvingYou're in a team meeting and there's a problem. How can you figure out what's really going on?
-
InterviewingWhat do you do if your team is not understanding your vision?
-
Engineering ManagementYou have a team that's not meeting deadlines. How can you motivate them to do better?