2) Know your top 3-5 issues. All projects have problems, but when things are “really nuts” it is especially important to know the big issues that are impacting your project. More often then not, the top issues are causing other problems within the project and when you address these top issues – other problems will go away as well!

If you attempt to address more than 3-5 issues – you will likely compromise your ability to stay focused and you’ll do 10 things poorly instead of 3-5 things well. Increase your success by narrowing your focus. As one issue is addressed – then you can add another issue to your “hit list” of the top 3-5 issues. You can also use this same approach for risk – focus on the top three. If you’re able to mitigate your top three potential risks this can have a significant positive impact on your project.

3) Know what’s going well! One of the best lines in a movie came from Gene Krantz the Flight Director in Apollo 13. In the midst of all the chaos as the mission was in dire straights – Gene literally screams – “STOP – Tell me what’s working – we need to use what’s working to fix what is broken.” It changed the focus and resolve of his team - and is exactly what enabled the team of highly trained engineers to determine a method to get Apollo 13 and its crew back to earth safely.

Focus on what’s working on your project teams and gain leverage from them. Does someone have an especially good relationship with a key stakeholder that could help move the team forward? Is one area of the team working together well and producing quality deliverables in spite of everything else that is happening around them? If so – determine how this sub-team is operating to take advantage of their success. Make sure you also announce the “wins” to all team members and management so they can see the progress that is being made. We focus so much on the “bad news” these days that we need to remind ourselves of the successes – even if they are small. Team members need this positive boost to help them feel good about their results and feel acknowledged for what they are doing well.

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