Getting complex projects across the finish line in big companies isn’t just about fancy tools or perfect plans. Sometimes it comes down to something much simpler – actually listening to what people are saying. While lots of managers talk about stakeholder engagement and communication strategies, few master the basics of showing up and really hearing what’s going on. That’s where James McCoy comes in. With years of rescuing troubled enterprise projects, he’s learned that the old-school art of listening might be exactly what modern project management needs.
Sometimes You Just Need to Take the Heat
After watching three project managers get kicked off a major client account in New Jersey, James stepped in with a simple but powerful approach: show up, shut up, and listen. That first meeting wasn’t pretty. “The first 30 minutes was filled with the client cussing me and the organization out,” James says. Most people would have jumped in to defend themselves or their company or the process, etc. Instead, James just sat there and took it all in.
This wasn’t just patience – it was strategy. By letting the client vent their frustrations, James could understand what was really wrong. After the storm passed, he pulled out his notebook. “I documented some things and let them know that this isn’t the way we normally do things and outside the process, but here are some ideas.” The company ended up spending more time and money than usual to get things back on track. Was the customer right?; No! But it worked because the client finally felt heard. As James puts it, “They saw that we cared and were working to come to some sort of collaboration agreement.”
For James, this points to a bigger problem in business today. “We live in a world where listening is needed more and more. It’s a forgotten art,” he says. “Everything’s about me and selfish. If somebody could show up, care and listen, you’ve got the next steps covered.”
Adapting to AI in Project Management
Like everyone in project management, James is watching how AI might change the game. But he’s practical about it. “The core project management goals aren’t going to change much,” he says. “You’ve got a client that wants a system implemented and they want it done well.” What will change is how the work gets done. James sees AI helping with the grunt work – taking meeting notes, tracking action items, updating documents. This should free up project managers to focus on what really matters: dealing with people. “There still needs to be someone to deal with issues, make judgment calls, and communicate with teams and clients,” James explains. Sometimes you even need someone who can “grab them by the shirt collar and work this out.”
Future Trends in Project Management
James believes project management will keep evolving around two things: technology and company project pain points. New tools will help handle the process of getting things done, but the real improvements will come from fixing what actually hurts – like quotes that underestimate the work, or schedules that keep slipping. His advice for project managers? Keep up with the tech, but don’t forget the basics. At the end of the day, successful projects still come down to understanding what people need and making sure they feel heard.
As companies rush to embrace AI and automation, James offers a grounding reminder: “If we get our communication right, our stakeholders right, and identify who they are and how they need to be communicated with, then we have a good foundation for success.” To learn more about James McCoy and his approach, check out his LinkedIn profile.
