Not cut out to be a project manager?

 

http://www.projectmanagerplanet.com/leadership/article.php/3832811.

Traits that make an effective project manager

1.  Active listening for concerns that eventually lead to differentiating concerns that affect a person or a group rather than the objective of the project

2.  Communicating objectives in different ways to different audiences using different media

3.  Using humor, if possible, to diffuse tension

4.  The ability to think fast on your feet to discuss/dispute a point, without making it personal or taking it personal

5.  Detailed oriented in keeping notes, issues, schedules, scope and all the documentation paraphernalia so important to project execution and project close

 Traits that undermine a person’s ability to manage projects well

1.  Trying to be everyone’s friend on a project….you were hired or put in charge to execute a plan or achieve an objective, not to make friends and win over enemies

2.  Taking setbacks personally or looking for scapegoats on the “bumps along the road to success”; problems happen, get over it and look for solutions.

3.  Getting angry, losing your temper in public, apologizing….it is too late and demeans you as a logical, analytical problem solver

4.  There are no “favorites” in a project team…there are team members, if given the chance, probably all want to achieve and share in success equally

5.  If you cannot summarize a contentious discussion and net the salient points into a simple elevator-like explanation….you cannot succinctly communicate and get buy-in for the problem solution

Project Management Office (PMO)…why have one

Attributes associated with building the case for a PMO include:

·         Implementation of a project management methodology (if in doubt use PMBOK ^©)

·         Leading organization changes in promoting project management culture (no more “flying by the seats of your pants”)

·         Institutionalizing organizational processes (COBIT ^© can at least get you started)

·         Improving overall performance (measure, calibrate, pick two things to perform, repeat as necessary)

“Through 2004, IT organizations that establish enterprise stands for project management include a project office with suitable governance, will experience half the major project overruns, delays, and cancellations of those that fail to do so.”  Source:  “The Project Office: Teams, processes, Tools,” August 2000, Gartner Research.  Although dated, not much has changed. 

Consistency is the key.  It takes time to realize a real Return on Investment (ROI) from a PMO.  Just getting one up and running is simply another project, but also entails matching the right organizational structure to meet the evolving needs of the PMO.  By organization I mean that a PMO is composed of two distinct talented groups.  One that adheres to project management methods and spends the majority of their time listening, gaining consensus on requirements, cajoling, nagging, mediating, writing and talking.  The other group is the tool group.  Whatever tool you pick, it is best not to try and force one person to be a tool wizard and a professional project manager.  They end up not doing a good job at either!

PMO Functions:

·         Mentoring / coaching / training

·         Process development and standards

ü  Project development lifecycle

ü  Project management methods

ü  Documentation standards

ü  Project selection (i.e., portfolio)

ü  Risk assessment

ü  Change management

ü  Scheduling

ü  Time reporting

·         PM methodology assessment improvement

·         Organizational and staff certification (OPM3, PMP)

·         Project coordination and administration

·         Resource management

·         Integration and release management

·         Portfolio management

·         Program management

Project Administration:

·         Schedule maintenance

·         Status report distribution

·         Project document distribution

·         Project workbook maintenance

·         Project repository administration/maintenance

·         Software tool

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