Q: I volunteered to take on a new project and am now freaked out as I'm way over my head. What do I do to keep this from harming my reputation and career (or my company)?
Renee, 35, team leader
A: Stay calm, think things through and reach out for assistance when you need it.
Think of all the times you have been in a tight spot. Maybe it's been professional, or perhaps it's been in a personal situation. Consider the skills you have developed to extricate yourself from binds in the past and ways you could use them now.
Use this to reassure yourself that you can come through this successfully. Things seldom are as dire as they seem. Remember, too, that you were given this opportunity for a reason, so your bosses likely have a certain amount of confidence in you.
At the same time, consider whether you tend to dramatize situations you are in. If this is a pattern for you, it would be a good one to address, as it creates a lot of negative emotional energy that can keep you from being successful in your day-to-day activities.
One of the best ways to get out of a panic hole is to break things down into simpler parts. Let's consider what you might mean when you say you're over your head, as well as some possible solutions.
Perhaps this is a bigger project than you are used to, or you are not accustomed to being in charge. In this case, you may be stuck right at the beginning, knowing how to approach from a big picture perspective. This is your chance to study up on basic project planning techniques. There are a lot of excellent online resources, books, local and national events, and training on this; check out the Project Management Institute's offerings as a starting point.
