This document outlines lessons learned from a project where risks emerged that were not anticipated in initial planning. The key lessons are: 1) Mitigating risks through fast tracking and flexible resource allocation and management. 2) Using proper communication channels to keep all team members informed. 3) Managing stakeholder expectations by addressing each stakeholder's specific concerns. 4) Ensuring effective teamwork through clear task allocation and information sharing. 5) Careful time management and ensuring on-time funding to allow for flexible resource allocation. The document emphasizes that experience managing multiple projects helps strengthen project management skills over time.

1. LESSONS: MITIGATING RISK IN PROJECTS
Recently I had the privilege of working with an amazing team, to complete a project and
as usual, when plans are laid out on paper, theylooksolid and without flaws. The project
team met and started out planning before moving and allocating resource to the site.
As soon as we hit the ground running, we hit snags and started to see risks emerging
from several angles, at some point as the project manager I constituted a risk as I didn’t
take control of my project as needed.
The lessons learned also started to fill in as I began to reach out to mentors and my
more experienced team lead to help out where I faltered.
FIVE LESSONS LEARNED
1. MITGATING RISKS BY FAST TRACKING: I had to learn first-hand the use of fast
tracking, even as taught in PM, It is different on the field as you have learn
resource allocation, manage time, run works parallel and think on your feet. Most
people think PM is only about communications. I tell you, its not!
2. UTILIZING PROPER COMMUNICATION CHANNELS: The channels of
communications have to be set out clearly so as not to be broken.
Communications also involves passing the information and getting feedbackfrom
the necessary team-members, this way everyone is in the loop and can give a
concise detail on the project timeline.
3. MANAGING STAKEHOLDER EXPECTATION: There will be stakeholders who just
want to make the project come to a standstill, a few are just disrupters. As the PM
I had to learn to appeal to each stake holder. There are some that needed to be
bullied, others pleaded with or have their ego’s stroked so as to make them feel

2. included in the project proceedings. I learnt from a mentor that “Your Political
Diplomacy” comes into play when managing stakeholders on any project.
4. TEAM WORK: Not everyone can work in a team, and that boils down to the team
lead and PM, on how this is managed. Team work can be challenging and the
quick thinking of the PM will show how this affects the project timeline and
progress. So as PM, it is to allocate each teammember with a designated task and
have them give reports. That way all team members are kept engaged without
crossing each other out. Also, it is important to stress the essence of crisscrossing
of information with each other so as to keep everyone in the loop of the project
goals.
5. TIME MANAGEMENT: Time is key to every project and it is how resources are
managed, finances disbursed that either accelerates or slow down the project
timeline. When resources are properly allotted but the funds are held back, the
project timeline is delayed. The trick here is to gentle nudge the team lead with
mails and other communication means to help out on the disbursement of funds
which is a motivating factor for most resources.
These few lessons are part of a growing process, in the making of a good Project
Manager. As time goes on and more projects are embarked upon mistakes are reduced
and processes and their applications are strengthened. We as PM’s become better at
what we do.
Special thanks to my PM Mentors:
Matthew Stephen Kolo
Wole Olabanji.