|
www.project-management.com.au
Welcome to the LeftField newsletter.
As you know, projects can bring out the best and worst in people – sometimes within the space of one meeting! If you have any stories or anecdotes to share with us, we’d love to hear them.
The top 5 things we've learned about stressed project managers
It’s the time of year when project managers get stressed. Here are our tongue-in-cheek ideas for dealing with them.
5. Never ask a stressed project manager to help with the washing up unless you can supply a detailed risk analysis and an updated Gantt chart.
4. When speaking with a stressed project manager, finish each sentence with ‘if that’s okay with you’.
3. If you accidentally startle a stressed project manager, maintain eye contact and back away slowly.
2. Try to avoid situations where more than three stressed project managers are in the room at the same time. Note: a group of stressed project managers is known as a ‘grimace’.
And, the number one thing we’ve learned about stressed project managers:
1. Even after the worst week they’ll always brighten up when you say ‘It’s time for drinks!’. Note: substitute ‘drinks’ with alternatives such as ‘muffins’ or ‘jellybeans’ depending on local customs and traditions.
Free wine!
If you’re a project manager, email us and tell us what would improve your work day when you’re feeling particularly stressed. A bottle of Tasmanian wine for the best answer! Winner and best entries will be published in our next newsletter.
"Project managers are a precious lot"
So said Dave, a senior executive, at one of our meetings recently, and it got us thinking: “What is it that makes someone an effective project manager? Can you pick one from reading his or her CV?”
The answer to the second question usually is no; just because someone has been involved in lots of projects or has the right qualifications doesn’t necessarily mean that he or she is cut out for the job at hand. The reason is that one’s ability to connect and communicate with people – to empathise, understand, listen, negotiate, persuade and influence – is just as important as formal training and project experience. Just because they’ve attended an Emotional Intelligence Workshop does NOT tell you whether or not they're really a people person.
What to look for
Short answer: a project manager who can demonstrate a track record in relationship management, who is competent in interpersonal skills as well as project skills, and is tenacious.
Let’s talk first about tenacity. You need someone who’s able to act flexibly to find solutions and who realises that a problem is not resolved until others buy into the solution. Someone who will push the project forward and won’t give up when things get difficult. Someone who will adopt the project and defend it – if not with her life then at least with a well-swung handbag/briefcase.
Other vital characteristics are the ability to influence, motivate and lead. An effective project manager connects with people and builds and maintains strong working relationships - that means addressing potential sources of conflict before they become real conflict. You need people to buy in to the project and be prepared to go out of their way to help when the going gets tough; they’ll do that if they believe the project manager is doing likewise. Likeable, hard working people are easy to follow.
Someone once said that a project manager must be conservative and courageous at the same time. It takes a practised eye to spot a good one. If you want some help identifying the capabilities and qualities of a project manager that will suit your next project then we’re happy to help – just give us a call.
Difficult-to-manage relationships sabotage more business than anything else – it is not a question of strategy that gets us into trouble, it’s a question of emotions. John Kotter
Our presentations at the AIPM Conference
In October Sharyn and Bron delivered papers at the AIPM national conference in Adelaide.
Over 200 people turned up to hear Sharyn describe how a combination of management skills and leadership ability is crucial to success in project management (Conversations around project leadership).
In The wonderful world of metaprograms Bron explained that metaprograms are filters that we use to sort and process information, and that everyone uses different filters. The audience enthusiastically participated in an interactive demonstration of the filters on the carpet.
You’re welcome to download the papers from our website.
AIPM Annual Achievement Dinner
In August LeftField hosted a table at the Tasmanian chapter of the AIPM Achievement Awards Dinner at Tattersalls Park. It was interesting to hear about projects in our own community, and as usual the competition was fierce … and that was just on the dance floor!
Congratulations to all who entered!
How did you celebrate International Project Management Day?
On November 5 2009 project professionals all over the world celebrated the 6th Annual International Project Management Day (IPM Day).
IPM Day was established as a way of recognising the extraordinary efforts made by project management professionals everywhere – across industries and geographies.
Next year’s IPM Day is 4 November; mark it in your diary now so it doesn’t slip by unnoticed.
Merry Christmas
Why you?
You’re receiving this newsletter because you’re on our mailing list; we thought you’re just the sort of person who might enjoy hearing stories about other projects and maybe learning some tips to make yours go more smoothly.
Feel free to pass it along to anyone you think might be interested.
We’ll be respectful of your time (and privacy) with these occasional newsletters. And of course you can unsubscribe any time you like using the link at the bottom of this page.
|
