VOICES Project Toolkit
From looming deadlines to scope
changes to overbearing clients, projects
can be stressful. But the stress
doesn’t have to be overwhelming.
We asked practitioners:
When the pressure is on,
how do you relieve your
team’s stress?
Under
Pressure
Sweat It Out
Trying to deliver excellent quality under
tight deadlines carries a strong risk of
stress which, in my experience, reduces
team members’ productivity and efficiency.
We’ve adopted a practice that may seem less important than, say, risk management, but is actually just
as useful: 20 minutes of daily exercise. A professional
trainer visits the office and leads us through stretches,
relaxation and strengthening exercises, along with
games that reinforce the team dynamic. The sessions
aren’t mandatory, but most team members participate. Not only does exercising prevent strain injuries
(like the ones you might get from sitting in front of the
computer for several hours and having bad posture),
but the sessions improve the team’s mental health and
contribute to better performance and productivity.”
—Andrea Paparello, PMP, project manager, LDS-LABS,
Fortaleza, Brazil
Take a Laugh Break
I’ve found the best way to handle stress is
humor and team camaraderie, especially
when we’re trying to problem-solve. I
Once, on a very challenging project with an extremely
tight deadline, our developers were having trouble com-
ing up with a solution to a problem at a meeting. So they
took a break to banter. Even though they were joking, I
could tell it was a productive conversation, so I didn’t stop
the flow of energy. We all laughed for a few minutes and
gave our brains a break from the stress. By the time the
meeting ended, the team had come up with a solution.”
—RaeLynn DeParsqual, PMP, project manager, Insight
Global, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA
Inclusive Planning,
Constant Communication
Avoiding surprises—both from team
members and issues that may arise with
the project itself—is a good way to
keep team stress to a minimum.
