A popular comic strip used during presentations or training about communication, is the “Tree Swing”.

I used to train other state government staff on project management basics. I always included a copy of the “Tree Swing” in my slide deck. The attendees generally have a few chuckles. The illustrations remind us of past project failures. We either experienced these failures first hand or heard horror stories about them.

To avoid the complications of miscommunication, it is vital to have regular discussions. It is also essential to document the project’s requirements. If the scope of a project changes, the change must be documented. It also needs to be communicated to the entire project team and stakeholders.

When you find the project has started to become rocky, stop and reflect. Does the situation match any of the comic strip panes? What caused the rocky situation? What is the plan to bring the scope, schedule, budget back into alignment?

The solution can be found based upon the source of the issue and the project’s goal. These factors help to get the project back on track.

Best wishes.

~ Gram

Reference: https://www.smart-words.org/jokes/how-it-projects-really-work.html