Most days all I hear is, When, Why, Why Not, you said what, and you want it when, you said you will have it done today, etc etc ….. This can be a lot for some people, but it’s the day to day of a project manager (PM).
We are all natural Project Managers (PMs), some just take this up as a career, and yes it does involve having a thick skin with a calm mind and sometimes you’ve gotta get a bit nutty.
Think about organising a Christmas family gathering at your place. A lot of planning and coordination is needed to ensure everything goes smoothly, especially the turkey, which needs to be cooked to perfection, and to ensure everyone has fun and is involved.
If you think about it, there is a lot of planning and delegation involved. Coordinating, managing costs, who does what when, who does the Christmas tree, who does the presents, you get the picture.
On top of this you are working with all types of personalities and demands, and for sure requests keep changing, plans aren’t going as planned, the budget’s getting blown because you have to buy two turkeys, expect uninvited guests like that long lost aunt and or friend and the neighbours dogs, and then a backup plan for the weather.
All this requires your special skill to coordinate, like the Conductor of an Orchestra, making sure each tune and note is played at the perfect time and has a beautiful symphony at the end.
This is project management. Welcome.
Being a PM is not just about schedules, deliverables, budget, and scope. It’s importantly about building relationships and creating trust.
Any person with perseverance, passion that is committed to a successful outcome can be a great PM, but it takes a special person to become one.
So, some great tips if you’re considering taking it on or if you’re a newbie as a Project Manager.
Having soft skills is a great way to start but more than that it’s about the 7Ss and 6Ps – but not limited to these.
The 7S’s
- Strategy
- Structure
- Systems
- Shared values
- Skills
- Style; and
- Staff
The 6P’s
- Process
- People
- Proficiency
- Passion
- Patience and
- Perfection (to some degree at least)
I hope these tips can help you plan the best Christmas party you’ve ever had or become the most outstanding Project Manager.
Merry Christmas – BrainStorm Project Manager, Dharmesh.
