HBR Guide to Leading Through Change

CHAPTER 16

Keep Your Team Motivated When a Project Goes Off the Rails

by Rebecca Zucker

According to a report by TeamStage, 70% of projects globally fail.¹ And big projects and change initiatives, with greater complexity and more moving parts, fail at significant rates. This can be for a variety of reasons, ranging from passive project sponsors and inadequate resources to a shifting organizational context or lack of internal alignment and stakeholder buy-in.

Poorly performing projects not only impact the bottom line, they also, understandably, impact morale and engagement. If your new initiative is going sideways or south, here are some ways to motivate your team to help get things back on track.

Reestablish or redefine the project purpose, goals, ...