Scope creep traditionally gets a bad rap. It happens when a project’s scope expands beyond what everyone originally agreed upon. This might mean going over budget, extending beyond a team’s capabilities or dealing with perpetually changing due dates.

While nothing about scope creep sounds good, there are some silver linings to it. Halona Black, a contributing writer for the Atlassian blog, and Lauren Parker, the managing editor for the Work Life Blog, say scope creep isn’t all bad since it can lead to innovation and creativity. After all, when you stay flexible and allow some wiggle room, you might end up with a better outcome that you initially thought.

If you’re wary of scope creep, keep reading this issue of PromoPro Daily. We’re discussing Black’s and Parker’s thoughts on why scope creep can be beneficial and how to make the most of potential curveballs.

Establish a culture of transparency and visibility. Black and Parker say that open communication and psychological safety are necessary ingredients for any healthy, successful team, and they also mitigate the risk of scope creep. This is because employees may be more apt to spot any red flags that could lead to scope creep when they know they are taken seriously. Make sure you clearly outline project goals and clarify everyone’s responsibilities. Then, make sure your team shares knowledge and documents everything throughout the project.

Make a realistic project schedule. While a dash of optimism can be helpful, it’s more important that you stay realistic. A thoughtfully constructed project timeline serves as both an action plan and an instrument of accountability, Parker and Black say. It can also help identify roadblocks you may encounter on your path that could lead to scope creep.

Practice good change management. No matter how much you plan, surprises and setbacks happen sometimes. Change management is an important tool for managing unavoidable pivots, say Black and Parker. The better you plan for change, the easier it is to avoid that logistical sabotage. To make room for scope creep, they recommend contemplating the potential change and how you will communicate it to stakeholders. Then, create an action plan and document your updates.

Scope creep can seem like a nightmare that leads to delays, overextended budgets and maybe even project failure. But remember it might not be the enemy you’ve been making it out to be. When you adjust your perspective on scope creep and leave some room for it, you just might benefit from unique opportunities.

Compiled by Audrey Sellers

Source: Halona Black is a contributing writer for the Atlassian blog and Lauren Parker is the managing editor for the Work Life Blog.