The best way to deal with project management stress is to always be 10 steps ahead. Doing this leaves more time to manage the “surprises” that will occur. They always do. And they cause a great amount of stress; especially if you’re already hanging on to your project by a thread. I get how staying ahead can also be stressful, but it’s the only way to really minimize the amount of stress that managing projects presents. 

I remember a few years ago being thrown into my first really big project as the project lead. The agony I endured came from imposter syndrome. I’ll keep it a buck and just say I didn’t really know where to start. I had an idea of what to do based on what I’ve seen before but seeing and doing are two completely different things.  

Backing down from the challenge was not an option so I went with it. Eventually, it all came together, and the project was successful, but getting through the uncertainty at the beginning was super stressful.

Let’s start by identifying the biggest reasons project management is so stressful. 

The obvious and most popular reason is the fact that the success or failure of a project falls on you, the project manager. For some people that’s motivation, but for many, that’s pressure! And, as the budget and scope increase, so do the stress levels. 

Another reason project management is stressful is that clients/customers don’t always know what they want in the beginning. That makes it extremely difficult to do the right project. 

Thankfully – there are ways, listed below, to deal with project management stress and stay 10 steps ahead.

Become a master at risk management. 

It’s really important as a project manager to identify risks upfront. It’ll save you a lot of time and stress as the project progresses. Risk management starts with being crystal clear on the project scope. There’s no way to effectively identify risks if the scope is not defined and understood by all stakeholders. 

Managing risks is kind of an ongoing task, but it’s a critical step at the beginning of project planning. Once identified, come up with a plan to either take advantage of opportunities and/or eliminate threats. 

Pay attention to the lessons learned from previous similar projects. 

Let’s not reinvent the wheel, kay? Take a look at what’s already been done and learn from project managers who have already been through the wringer. Many established PMOs have a repository of lessons learned and other documentation that could help guide you through your projects. 

If there are no lessons learned documents, be the first to get it going. Lessons learned can be positive or negative and will help in the long run as more projects are being managed. 

Detach after work.

If you’re a project manager and you’re still thinking about work after work, stop. It’s imperative that you completely detach when the workday is done. Take an exercise class or cook a nice meal to take your mind off of the job. 

Being engulfed in solving work problems all day every day is very stressful and could result in severe health issues; including stress. It’s really easy for this to happen to project managers because of the pressure to complete projects. 

To be real though, detaching is the best thing you can do after work. How many times have you walked away from a project to grab a coffee or to eat lunch and voila! A new idea is presented. It’s so worth it to detach and come back to work with a fresh brain and less stress.

By, Airess Rembert, PMP, Member of Women Of Project Management & Blogger at The Nerd Bae

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