“It is the oddest thing. They are such a nice group of people. Each one of them comes highly recommended and yet nothing seems to be happening.” Joe, the project sponsor explained to Mary Carol. He went on to explain, “I thought that this was such an easy effort that this team could really just […]
“Alright, if I lend two of my best testing resources to you next week, then you will add me as a member to the Project Methodology Council, right?” asked Jim. “Ok Jim, I really do need two of your strongest testing resources to get us back on track, so if you and your resources deliver, […]
Some of your team members are motivated by the need to feel connected. If you have studied motivational theories, then you have come across McClelland’s theory. This theory basically states that people tend to be motivated either by a need for power, a need for affiliation, or a need for achievement. To be more accurate, […]
As a project manager, you prioritize building and strengthening stakeholder relationships for good reason. Every supplier, investor, employee, and project sponsor involved shares a vested interest in the success of the project and, on a larger scale, the entire company. Author Simon Simek notes in his book that a business’s success is measured by longevity […]
Speak when you are angry, and you will make the best speech you will ever regret.” Ambrose Bierce You just gave one of your most eloquent speeches. You were inspired, you were passionate, you were a bit witty, and you had the attention of everyone around you. Your words evoked strong emotion in others. Unfortunately, […]
By Luke Smith Is there an aspect of work that COVID-19 has not changed? For project managers, likely not. New processes for remote work, changes in company structure and composition, and trends in management strategies overall will define the modern workplace. But project managers can successfully navigate these shifts. With the tools and strategies available […]
Why was Joe putting so much effort into the decision-making process and the outcome of that process? He had a high-performing team. This was a team that worked well together and met challenging goals. A team who could argue and then break into laughter. This time the team felt a bit more passionate about the issue at hand. The divide seemed a bit deeper than during any of their previous disagreements
No matter how experienced you are. No matter how many projects you have managed or teams that you have led, you can always brush up on your leadership skills. While it continues to be important for you to model responsible behavior to your teams, other ways to lead may vary in their necessity. For example, in 2020 the need to lead virtual teams, and inspire work from home employees has moved to the top of desirable skills. The good news is that you can always learn and change and grow.
As the pandemic has created a “new normal,” employees around the world are grappling with change. Either they must continue working from home indefinitely or they’re facing largely reconfigured and discombobulated physical offices that have been rejiggered to follow new COVID-19 protocols. They are looking to YOU to lead them through the pandemic and beyond.
Being a project manager is about leading teams through change. Today, the change is wrapped in a crisis. The pandemic has compelled project teams to embrace digital transformation. More than anything, your organization needs adept and effective leadership. Leaders need to guide teams masterfully and reach goals successfully, even as uncertainty looms.
In this endeavor, keep in mind C-H-A-N-G-E. Be an expert in adapting to and thriving in change by embracing some specific characteristics.
Don't keep repeating the same mistakes over and over again. It takes practice to capture lessons learned and to make use of those lessons as we move forward. What could you do better?