You Can’t Control Everything

How to Lead Through Setbacks Without Losing Trust

Read Time: 5 minutes

The vendor dropped the ball.
The integration failed.
The team missed a handoff.
The client changed priorities mid-sprint.

It wasn’t your fault.
But it is now your problem.

And how you respond will define how people see your leadership, far more than whether the project goes exactly as planned.

Why Reaction Matters More Than Control

Project managers are expected to be in control.
But control is an illusion. Influence is real.

Here is what teams and stakeholders want from you:

• Calm communication when things go wrong
• A clear next step, not just blame
• Accountability without finger-pointing
• Honesty without panic

You cannot control the chaos.
However, you can control how you present yourself within it.

When It’s Not Your Fault—But Still Your Job

✅ Own the Outcome. Say: “Here’s where we are, what we’re doing next, and what you can expect.” That builds confidence even when the answer isn’t perfect.

✅ Shield the Team. If something external failed, do not let your team take the hit. Advocate for them and productively redirect frustration.

✅ Communicate Up, Not Just Down. Executives care about clarity. Tell them the impact, not the drama. Say, “This delays X by 10 days unless we adjust the scope or resources.”

✅ Document It All. Write it down: What happened, who was responsible, what was impacted. This protects the team and enables better planning in the future.

💬 A PM in our community shared that when a third-party provider missed a critical deadline, she reframed the issue for leadership as a risk-to-value decision. That transparency bought her support instead of blame, and helped secure a stronger contract for the next engagement.

Resilience Is a Leadership Skill

Nobody remembers perfect execution.
They remember who held the line when things fell apart.

You do not need to have all the answers.
You need to create a space where the answers can emerge.
That is what makes people trust you when it matters most.

And that's how resilient leadership is built between the milestones.

👇 Your Turn

Have you had to lead when someone above you was unclear or missing?

👉 Share your story in the comments below or respond to this email.

You might be featured in an upcoming spotlight!