When it is OK to lie to your Project Sponsor

One of the most difficult and important responsibilities one has is building a cohesive team that works like a well-oiled machine. Stakeholders that comprise the project team include not only the core team but the project sponsor. The project sponsor is an individual within the organization, usually an executive or high-level manager, who sets the project goals and vision.

When something major happens in the project, the project sponsor should be informed. But what if there is a scenario where the project hits a major roadblock, but the core team members assure you they only need two weeks to turn things around. Is it ok to lie to your sponsor? After all things will turn around soon.

No! It is never ok to lie to your sponsor. Honesty and transparency are the cornerstone of trust and once trust is broken, it is veritably impossible to get it back. Trust is an essential component of project success. Your sponsor should be able to rely on you for accurate project information so that informed decisions can be made.

The correct thing to do in this scenario is to inform your sponsor of the problem and ask the sponsor to give the team 2 weeks to turn things around. Misleading your sponsor can lead to poor decision making and more importantly lying can create an unethical project environment and set a bad example for the project team.

When you face a difficult project situation, it’s always better to communicate openly about project challenges not only to the project sponsor but to the entire project team. In this way you will build a strong, collaborative team.