Dealing with a project under stress

What can cause stress in a project

Our projects generally start from a situation of relative stability, then an element of instability is introduced as we carry out changes to the environment where we are doing the project. Naturally, this can introduce stress in that environment and the people who work in it. As if this wasn’t enough, a project may also be affected by the current global situation, of national political and financial nervousness (peace/war, economic doldrums, US administration change etc).

We can’t fix every problem, however all too often we notice another layer of stress that can affect project teams. This is to do with the operation of the team itself; its levels of authority, hierarchy, working practices, communication and other dimensions to do with its own ‘culture’.

What are the elements that can stress the project team?

Among these various dimensions sit the three fundamental concepts of Autonomy (being able to get on with the job), Teams (set up to do the job) and Tension (forces that try to stop the job or waste energy). Each of these have the potential to be at odds with each other, so it’s important to understand the forces involved. Left unchecked, they can seriously impair a project’s efficiency.

These areas where people and projects interact are exactly what the APM People Network is set up to uncover and study. So we are running a one-day conference on 26th February 2025 where we are bringing together a group of experts to help us deal with these and other related issues.

What we will be covering at this conference

We will be running sessions that will go into detail on:

The tensions within project leadership, and how to avoid them.
How autonomy can work well in hierarchical environments.
Harmonising the different levels at which teams work mentally and culturally.
Project burnout, how it comes about, what to do when it does.
Psychology and conscious inclusion, for a team at ease with itself.
Communication and behaviour – How understanding transactional analysis helps.
Psychological safety in major projects, where stresses can be even greater.
Asking for your own experiences in the workplace, with our expert panel offering advice.

Why you should consider attending

There are plenty of opportunities through the day for you to network and share with other attendees and the session presenters.

I myself am really looking forward to hearing about psychological safety in major projects, as I have seen first-hand how the unique stresses of a giga-project can affect people. Also, to discovering views on best leadership practice and how to foster autonomy, while keeping teams running smoothly.

If any or all of the sessions listed above ring any bells, look interesting or make you feel you would like to get involved, check out the details of this conference at APM People Interest Network Conference 2025. You can book your place right there or tell other colleagues about it in case this could help them too. APM members and students get preferential rates. We would love to welcome you to this important event on 26th February.