ASEC Engineering Consultants

Assessment of Project Approval Challenges in Nairobi City County 1. Executive Summary Getting project approvals in Nairobi City County is a big challenge for consultants and developers.

In civil and structural engineering consultancy, technical problems are the easy part. People problems? That’s where it gets interesting.

Whether it’s a team member who moves the goalposts, a colleague who won’t collaborate, or a contractor who pushes back on every spec - you don’t get to pick who you work with. But you do get to choose how you handle it.

Over time, I’ve found a few things that help:

Stick to facts. Engineering is built on logic - your communication should be too. Keep it clear, calm, and grounded.

Protect your boundaries. Just because the pressure is high doesn’t mean everything becomes urgent or acceptable. Be clear on what you will (and won’t) tolerate.

Don't let the noise distract you from the work. Difficult people can drain energy fast. Stay focused on the project, not the drama.

Be the professional in the room. You don’t have to win every interaction. Sometimes, keeping your cool is the win.

In our industry, you can’t avoid pressure or personalities. But learning how to work with difficult people - without compromising quality or losing your mind - is a skill worth building.

Curious - what’s helped you navigate tough personalities in high-stakes projects?