Know When Your Work Project Is In Danger
It’s easy to guess what went wrong with a work project after it goes South. Web Worker Daily wants you to get a little foresight, though, and know what to fix, or when to bail.
Georgina Laidlaw speaks from experience, having watched a subcontract for an ad agency go suddenly, irreversibly wrong. Some signs should have told her that changes needed to be made, but others were warning signs that her real energy and time could be better spent than rearranging chairs on the Titanic.
Laidlaw offers five points of warning, but this one sticks out as the catch-all indicator that something’s gone wrong, especially when working with someone whose habits and processes you know well:
No one I’ve ever worked with has accepted copy straight up, without amendments. Ever. So this should have been a huge red flag for me. If a person you’re working with does something you’ve never seen before – and their behaviour affects you – check it out with them.
In other words, even if a client or co-worker can explain something away—it was a busy day, lots of family stuff, and the like—allowing changes to the project process to go unexamined can lead you down the path to confusion and clutter.
How have you known when things were taking a turn for the worse in your work? What’s the best move you made to fix or escape a big goal, or small team? Tell us in the comments. 5 Warning Signs of a Project In Danger [Web Worker Daily]
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Comments (AU Comments | US Comments)
Unfortunately two things make these types of problem clients or projects harder. One is that from my experience, you can't change a bad client... it's only the good clients that will listen. And the second is that in this economy many are forced to deal with it, rather then 'saying see you later'...
I've been in the client position in those kinds of conflicts. When I think something is weird, I've taken a bit of time to chat about it with another freelancer, preferably one who knows the contractor with whom I'm having an issue. You could probably do the same, that is, chat with another freelancer who has more experience with the specific client (assuming you know other freelancers in that position). If you don't know a freelancer who works for that client, then throw the situation by another freelancer you know who may have encountered a similar situation, and do that early in the process.
I've always thought it a good thing to have open communication between freelancers and clients, and not be so competitive. It makes it easier if everybody can sort things out among themselves, and I've appreciated freelancers who have had good relationships with my other vendors. That way everybody knows what the client is looking for, and the work is done better and faster, and everybody smiles.
tombuch
I've been in the client position in those kinds of conflicts. When I think something is weird, I've taken a bit of time to chat about it with another freelancer, preferably one who knows the contractor with whom I'm having an issue. You could probably do the same, that is, chat with another freelancer who has more experience with the specific client (assuming you know other freelancers in that position). If you don't know a freelancer who works for that client, then throw the situation by another freelancer you know who may have encountered a similar situation, and do that early in the process.
I've always thought it a good thing to have open communication between freelancers and clients, and not be so competitive. It makes it easier if everybody can sort things out among themselves, and I've appreciated freelancers who have had good relationships with my other vendors. That way everybody knows what the client is looking for, and the work is done better and faster, and everybody smiles.
tombuch
Yeah, this has happened to me. Not in the same way or for the same reason, but one of my first clients was a nightmare. I'd give them what they asked for, I'd get no response other than "when can you start?" So I'd scramble to get something done only to have to redo it because they needed to make changes to my plans. Arrrghh. Every issue, every time.
They chewed through two of my good friends before me and my brother and sister in law after me. It was tough because I (and others) were painted as incapable and flaky to people we were close to. Caused a lot of tension. Totally not worth it. Had I been a little older and a little wiser, I would have bolted after the first couple issues (there were plenty).
exconsumer9
A few years ago there were about 2000 employees+long term contractors and 8,000 project contractors worldwide working directly on a project. Schedules, deliveries, hardware, networking was all being designed, monitored, purchased, delivered, configured for a $500M project.
Then on a Friday about 16 months into the project ... almost all (90%) of the project contractors didn't come to work. I was still responsible for deliverables that day and 2 more large deliveries the following week.
Around 2pm that Friday, the rumor of the entire project being canceled was confirmed. Nothing written came from company executives until a week later where a thank you was sent.
About 8 months later this 65,000 employee company was bought.
TheFu
A few years ago there were about 2000 employees+long term contractors and 8,000 project contractors worldwide working directly on a project. Schedules, deliveries, hardware, networking was all being designed, monitored, purchased, delivered, configured for a $500M project.
Then on a Friday about 16 months into the project ... almost all (90%) of the project contractors didn't come to work. I was still responsible for deliverables that day and 2 more large deliveries the following week.
Around 2pm that Friday, the rumor of the entire project being canceled was confirmed. Nothing written came from company executives until a week later where a thank you was sent.
About 8 months later this 65,000 employee company was bought.
TheFu
One marker for me is that if I have to wheedle and beg for whatever I need just to prepare an estimate or proposal, then even if I get the deal, it will be a nightmare. If the client is forthcoming and helpful, though, it will be a dream.
DaveyNC
@tombuch: How is asking people other than the one with whom there is a possible problem considered "open"? Just initiate actual open discussion with the person/problem directly.
centralasian
@tombuch: How is asking people other than the one with whom there is a possible problem considered "open"? Just initiate actual open discussion with the person/problem directly.
centralasian
This is why we have contracts. Cover yourself with explicit time for revisions and make sure everything is scoped. Everything else gets billed by the hour. Try to get paid part upfront or after milestones. Then they'll have a reason not to ditch you, and you'll get at least something for you efforts.
SamburgerHandwich
@TheFu: Shame you didn't get told at the same time as the contractors, but projects get pulled all the time - even ones this big. The project may have had costs of $500m, but presumably they hadn't all been committed at the stage it was cancelled. If the business case stops stacking up, then pulling the plug is good project management. At least they said thank you!
David Parker
Thanks for the flashbacks to horrible clients lol
Thanks for the flashbacks to horrible clients lol
One dead giveaway I've experienced is when you stop receiving any sort of paycheck or compensation, but are still expected to get things done.
GarretEuterpe