Credibility is critical
Not only does the typical IT response turn off others???amazingly to our surprise???but it actually can be interpreted as our promising to deliver failure, which in turn destroys our credibility. There is no reason for others to believe or follow advice which is certain to create failure. More importantly, rather than helping us prevent failures, focusing mainly on ways to fail in fact increases chances of failure because it prevents our seeing ways to succeed.
The key to project success is to start with a commitment to delivering results. That is not merely commitment to work hard and care, which are givens. Rather, commitment to delivering results is what is necessary to persevere past inevitable obstacles. Without it, we deliver excuses instead of results. Ironically, commitment to delivering results is what enables our minds to be open to finding ways to delivering the results.
Then, identify what time and resources it will take. Only with a reasonable way to deliver desired results is there the credibility needed to negotiate budget, schedule, and possibly revised results.
