| I recently watched a very interesting independent | | | | that when new teams are created there is the |
| film (on DVD) that sparked a thought. The 1992 film | | | | typical forming, norming, storming and conforming. In |
| "Glengarry Glen Ross" is a movie about some | | | | this situation (and others) we need to provide the |
| desperate salesmen in a desperate situation. Alec | | | | leadership, persuasive assertiveness and use of |
| Baldwin, who plays Blake, engages in an extremely | | | | personal power to keep the focus on the goals of |
| abusive diatribe with the sales team in which he | | | | the project and strive for cooperation. |
| exclaims "A-B-C. A-Always, B-Be, C-Closing. Always | | | | The next ABC for project managers is "Always Be |
| be closing, always be closing." Having been in a sales | | | | Cognitive." This is the area where project managers |
| role in a previous life I had heard this before, but I | | | | must be up for analytical and conceptual thinking. In |
| reflected on this for a moment. Then I asked myself, | | | | regards to analytical thinking, as project managers we |
| "Are there ABC's for Project Management?" | | | | will be dealing with various problems and complex |
| Digging deep into my collective resources on project | | | | situations. There is the need to be able to scrutinize |
| management I found the document that I intended | | | | the information and break it down into discernible |
| use for the basis of this article. It was titled "The | | | | facts that can deliver a solution to a situation. This is |
| Competencies For Project Managers" and I thought | | | | not a task specific to the project manager, this may |
| for sure it was going to provide information that | | | | require the team to gather and discuss the situation |
| would benefit project managers in all industries. It | | | | and follow the process to break it down and resolve |
| turned out after reading this document again that it | | | | it. It should be the project manager who is able to |
| was an eye opening experience for me. Though I | | | | recognize this and take the necessary action. |
| had seen this information before in a presentation, | | | | Conceptual thinking on the other hand may involve |
| looking at it again I discovered why the PMO in the | | | | experience or training to provide solutions. Its not |
| corporation failed. The competencies listed did not tie | | | | based purely on fact but it also takes into |
| back to any project management competencies | | | | consideration intuitive processes, creativity and |
| pertaining to PMBOK or any other project | | | | inductive reasoning. I feel that this is where an |
| management methodology including the very own | | | | organization may consider Agile Project Management, |
| project management solution the corporation paid for. | | | | be advised that this requires a specific type of |
| In fact, the competencies were so generalized they | | | | project management mindset in order to be |
| could be used for a typical managers role. But being | | | | successful. |
| an optimist, I have a solution so let's delve into that. | | | | There are two more ABC's to consider so let's keep |
| As project managers I feel we should follow the | | | | going. "Always Be Competent." This has four areas |
| same ABC's that salesmen do but in a different | | | | for consideration, self-control, self-confidence, |
| perspective "Always Be Closing." Now let's break this | | | | flexibility and organizational commitment. These are |
| into parameters that apply to Project Managers, this | | | | pretty self explanatory yet, let's take a moment for |
| is an action oriented item. Think of all that a project | | | | review. Self-control is huge for the project manager |
| manager is responsible for. First a quick review of the | | | | as we face the issues and risks that arise during the |
| project management process groups, they consist of | | | | course of a project. If we maintain our composure in |
| ... | | | | the face of challenge we reflect our ability to take |
| Initiating, Planning, Executing, Controlling and | | | | charge and keep a project on course. Self-confidence |
| Monitoring, and Closing. | | | | is an area that ties in a project managers ability to be |
| "Always be closing" in each of the project process | | | | in control of his surroundings and be confident in the |
| groups. In each of these groups, there are a number | | | | outcome. It is our ability to respond positively to a |
| of items that need to be addressed. Get them on | | | | situation versus react with inability. The point here is |
| your list or get them into the project plan and work | | | | to take the time you may need to think and respond |
| on closing the action items. Always Be Closing! | | | | accordingly. There will be times that you will be asked |
| In addition to the process groups there are the nine | | | | to find a solution, respond with what actions you |
| knowledge areas of Project Management which | | | | may take to resolve the issue and give it a time |
| consist of ... | | | | frame. Flexibility, this is a broad topic that takes into |
| Integration Management | | | | account resources and the triple constraints of |
| Scope Management | | | | project management. be aware of this and determine |
| Time Management | | | | how to manage it with consideration for the success |
| Cost Management | | | | of a project. How much flexibility exists is dependent |
| Quality Management | | | | on the type of project being managed. Organizational |
| Human Resource Management | | | | commitment is when you work to improve the |
| Communications Management | | | | organization not the financial condition of your wallet. |
| Risk Management | | | | Last but not least, "Always Be Communicating." Put |
| Procurement Management | | | | this hand in hand with "Always Be Closing." This topic |
| For each of these groups there are items that may | | | | was not even on the original list of competencies but |
| be determined necessary for the success of a | | | | it is certainly very important. As project managers |
| project. Again, identify what needs to be done, get in | | | | we must be on top of project communications |
| the plan or on the task list and "Always Be Closing." | | | | among the members of the team and we must |
| There are more ABC's of project management to | | | | communicate the proper project reporting that feeds |
| keep in mind for the success of a project. The next | | | | up the chain. Though it is good to get things out to |
| ABC on the list is "Always Be Courteous." In respect | | | | the team in an email, be sure to talk to team |
| to this, it is good to remember that as project | | | | members on the phone or in person, especially if you |
| managers we are also responsible interpersonal | | | | have tasked them to do something. I'm not sure I |
| understanding and customer service. Interpersonal | | | | like the word "tasked." why don't we just remove |
| understanding involves the workings of individuals and | | | | the "T" and follow-up on what you "asked" them to |
| knowing how to get the best out of the individuals | | | | do. Communications is so important, we should be |
| on the team. I personally like the DiSC Personality | | | | persuasive in our communication methods in order to |
| Profile method of learning about your team | | | | encourage the best response from those on the |
| resources. In regards to customer service, if you | | | | team. I'll say it here, that you won't find me peeling a |
| place yourself in the customer service role for a | | | | lemon and passing it out as a team snack. But add |
| moment, as a project manager you are in a service | | | | some sweetener and water and you'll cool down |
| role and the team members are customers. Kindness | | | | even the most heated thirst. And really, that's what |
| and understanding will get you farther than bitterness | | | | we want to do, we want to make the project work, |
| and intolerance. | | | | we want the project to be successful. You should |
| Next on the list of ABC's is "Always be Considerate." | | | | display goodness and kindness in your |
| This is not similar to the courteous guidance. This is | | | | communications if you want it to be effective. There |
| directed towards the impact and influence of a | | | | is a time and place to handle difficult team members, |
| project manager. Here is where a project manager | | | | communicate in a manner that elicits the best |
| should be considerate of the organization and | | | | productivity from your resources and measure the |
| understand the need for relationship building. If a | | | | results. |
| project manager is aware of the organizational goals | | | | Let's take a moment to recap this information. What |
| and its mission, the project manager can reinforce | | | | we have reviewed here are seven ABC's of project |
| this when the going gets tough on projects. When it | | | | management for project managers. Here is a list of |
| comes to relationship building, as a project manager, | | | | them ... |
| we may need to influence these relationships in order | | | | 1) Always be Closing |
| to have an impact on the project success by | | | | 2) Always be Courteous |
| incorporating the sound practices of project | | | | 3) Always be Considerate |
| management. The advantages of sound process | | | | 4) Always be Cultivating |
| benefit the current projects and provide valuable | | | | 5) Always be Cognitive |
| information for future projects. | | | | 6) Always be Competent |
| This next ABC is around the managerial side of | | | | 7) Always be Communicating |
| project management and that is "Always Be | | | | You may want to take the time to reread this |
| Cultivating." The focus of this topic is around | | | | article, take some notes compare this to your |
| teamwork, developing others, team leadership and | | | | current actions and see if you can improve your |
| being assertive. As a project manager we are in a | | | | results. If there is something you could do to improve |
| leadership role that is responsible for the team | | | | the success of your project, or your project team or |
| success as well as the project success. There are | | | | the organization, is there something that your have |
| times when we may need to develop others either | | | | learned here that can assist you? I would certainly |
| with mentoring or training in order to get the best | | | | like to hear from you. Likewise, I would certainly |
| results from the team resources. We need to realize | | | | enjoy hearing about your experiences. |