8 Strategies for Managing High-Stress Projects

Implementing clear, straight-forward systems can make projects stress-free from the jump
July 25, 2025
2 min read

Stressful situations are bound to arise at any workplace, and construction sites are no exception. How you react to stressful situations is important, but having forward-thinking systems already in place can help save time, energy, and resources. Home remodeling and design platform Houzz spoke with eight housing industry professionals to find out the systems they have in place to streamline their work and keep all team members on the same page, even during the busiest seasons. Some of their top strategies include: having consistent and clear communication across teams; being able to delegate tasks appropriately; making sure each team member knows how and is prepared to multi-task; and having clear expectations for the outcome of a project; among other tactics.

Put multitasking in the job description. “Our 11 project managers, depending on their experience, manage six to eight projects that are actively moving through design, another four or five projects that are moving through permitting, and eight to 10 that are moving through construction,” says Eugene Sakai, CEO and partner at Studio S Squared Architecture in San Jose, California. “So when we hire, we make it very clear that multitasking and being super organized are part of the job requirement.”

With so many projects on the go, having a considered delegation process is crucial, Sakai says. “For each client, we assign a project manager who is supported by a team that may include junior or contract staff, along with senior team members to ensure projects move forward efficiently.”

 

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