Let me start with are you familiar with PMI Chicagoland?
"The PMI Chicagoland Chapter provides the opportunity to network with other Project Management professionals and practitioners in a diverse range of industries in the Chicago metropolitan area to share project experiences, effective project management techniques and tools, and valuable lessons learned are among the many benefits." A great organization that provides ample opportunity for up and coming as well as experienced Project and Program managers to learn and contribute.
I had the good fortune to attend the PMI Chicagoland 12th Annual Leadership Forum late last week. This is the second year that I have attended this conference and once again I found it to be a great use of my time. I am a big fan of PMI Chicagoland.
The keynotes included Skip Wiseman who spoke about "Communicating to Create a Championship Culture" and Andy Kaufman who spoke about "The Executives Role in Project Success."
Skip did a great job hitting on the keynotes about change and how you need to tackle it in an ever changing environment. Some of his key lessons included:
"Embrace the resistance" Have you ever been leading a change and run immediately into resistance? As Skip advised, the only way to remove the resistance is to "expect and accept the resistance to unlock the opportunity." Doing this allows the necessary conversations to flow and ultimately change to occur. Yeah!
Skip also discussed the need to understand their change and embrace what does this mean for them? In order to "stop the moaning speak to the meaning." Talk about why the change is necessary while understanding its impact on their world.
And the final straw of advice was to "engage in storytelling." We all know a family member who loves to tell a passionate story. Think about this approach as you lead your next change. Being able to tell a story makes you human to those who feel like their world is being turned upside down.
Andy Kaufman is a great person, speaker and project leader. He knows how to motivate people to make the change. I have been afforded numerous opportunities to speak about project management and PMO’s at his Loyola University MBA class and have always enjoyed this experience.
First, he shared the quote from Dr. Henry Cloud "You get what you tolerate." Andy then went into how when we tolerate specific behaviors from our stakeholders and sponsors, we do not always get to the successful project outcomes we desire. He went on to add that "You get what you demonstrate." Therefore, if we demonstrate our kindness, respect, confidence, project management abilities, listen to our stakeholders and sponsors and address any concerns they have, we get that same behavior in return.
The second resounding statement he shared was "Success in business comes down to the Fword- follow up." Think about your role as the project/program manager and why you are in this role. You are tasked with ensuring that the goals are met and objectives are achieved.
Another key point shared by Andy was in conjunction with the famous quote by Donald Rumsfeld “You Go to War with the Army You Have—not the Army you Might Want or Wish to Have at a Later Time.” Sometimes we are given project team members that we question. Give them an opportunity to deliver and if they cannot, get them off the bus so that you can complete your route.
The final note that Andy ended with is “You have enormous influence on the success of projects that report to you.” Think about this…as the project/program manager you shape the outcome of these endeavors. How you lead, escalate and push the change forward directly impacts the results you see.
Therefore, go forward with a positive, can do attitude to achieve the outcomes you and your organization desire.