Perform a Gap Analysis [Source:  “Sharp Leadership – Overcome Adversity to Lead with Authenticity” by Carl H. Sharperson, Jr. Copyrighted 2017:  Brown & Duncan Brand, LLC  pg. 60]. Gap Analysis – Means analyzing and reporting on the difference between the current situation and the desired future state: Provide a detailed status report on each outstanding […]

Action Steps:   REHEARSE your delivery BEFORE making the formal presentation Determine: Do you know exactly what the problem is? Decide: Is it fixable? Ask: Is the process rolling too fast for the client? Assess: Will the team pull together and help rescue the project? Utilize: A devil’s advocate to test your assessments. Learn: What happened;

Remember – Nobody wants to look like they are the reason for a failed project. ASK MANAGEMENT: 1. Please provide you with a thumbnail summary overview of their business 2. What business challenges keep them up at night 3. How this project correlates with the firm’s overall business model       ● Stay cool and calm in

PROJECT RESCUER (YOURS):  ASK CLIENT WHAT THEY EXPECT FROM YOU! Remember: In medicine, about 90% of the diagnosis is made by listening to the patient. Expectations Management [Source:  “Sharp Leadership – Overcome Adversity to Lead with Authenticity” by Carl H. Sharperson, Jr. Copyrighted 2017:  Brown & Duncan Brand, LLC  pg. 57] (Ensure that you and

MANAGEMENT’S: Corporate culture (ask many; at all levels; unwritten rules.) Embarrassed. May be defensive (self-preservation) about answering questions and having their judgement questioned. Could possibly accuse independent evaluators of “rushing to judgement”. Could lose the business. Loss of prestige/ possible adverse impact on legacy. Loss of market share. Competition may discover firm’s weakness. Differing agendas.

AUDITORY.  The person being interviewed is Physically unable to answer questions Reluctant to answer questions/ evasive Answering interviewer’s questions with his/ her own questions Repeating your question or asks you to repeat the question Continually asks you to clarify the question Answering in a shaky voice Stuttering Experiencing voice cracking/ oral clicking sound/ dry mouth

Swallowing repeatedly/ excessively Pulsating carotid artery Nervously touching face Leaning away from the interviewer Constantly checking their cell/ smart phone during the interview Sweating profusely when the environment, dress or activity do not warrant it Exhibiting “goose bumps” Hairs standing on end of the arms and back of the neck Fidgeting/ nervous hands Playing with

Please review this listing BEFORE conducting interviews: (Source: Instructor Guide “Prevention and Response to Suicide Bombing Incidents” prepared by New Mexico Institute of Mining & Technology [New Mexico Tech].  Reprinted with permission. 2014) Projects are also psychological.  People who will be interviewed will experience some level of stress. Psychologists describe the following reflexes as “fight

What are the alternatives that have been considered? What decisions are we trying to make? What are you most concerned about first? What is our best option now? What happens to this project if management: Completely withdraws from it? Abandons it? Does nothing and allows the project to proceed as is? Immediately commits the required/