#1nlab15: being the dave matthews band, not dave matthews
TRANSCRIPT
Alex Castillo & Matt Thomas@alexmcastillo @mrthomas35
Being the Dave Matthews Band, Not Dave Matthews
The People Side of Project Management
The People Side of Project Management
#1 - Establish a Project Vision
Why you are doing
what you are doing.
Characteristics of a Project Vision
Why Aspirational Shared
Concise Clear
An Example . . .
Apple
“A computer for the rest of us.”
Apple
“A computer for the rest of us.”
Does Your Project Vision Accomplish This?
§ Focus efforts in a common direction
§ Give purpose to the work
§ Is the metric of success
#2 - Allow for Creativity
“Talented people will be attracted by the
ability to see and influence the whole
process, to learn from other knowledgeable
people, and by the opportunity to create and
grow.”
-John Clarkeson, Jazz vs. Symphony, 1990
“The solution is for project managers to
devote less effort to predicting and directing
innovation, and more effort to managing the
inevitable uncertainties.”
-Markus Lorenz, “How Good Management Stifles Breakthrough Innovation”, 2013
Next Steps for Creativity
§ Look for and create opportunities
§ Be comfortable with some risk
§ Focus on managing uncertainties
#3 – Play to Your Strengths
How Do We Identify Our Strengths?
STRENGTHSFINDER 2.0
Positivity
“A person who embodies this strength
has an enthusiasm that is contagious.
They are upbeat and can get others excited
about what they are going to do.”
-Strengthsfinders 2.0
Ideas for Action - Positivity
Yourself
§ Don’t pretend that difficulties don’t concern you.
§ Recognize challenges; communicate optimism.
Others
§ Doesn’t hold true 100%
§ Remind and encourage
Benefits
§ Engagement at work
§ Acceptance of yourself and others
§ Actionable advice
§ Provides insight for utilizing each member
#4 – Thoughtful Communication
“As group members interact, question, disagree
with, and support decisions, communication
increases. Increased communication promotes
overall group success.”
Limas, J.R. 2003. “Small Group Dynamics in a Nutshell.” Manage Online
What Went Wrong?
§ Timeline drivers weren’t communicated.
§ Individuals making decisions
How Could This Have BeenPrevented?
Project Pre-Mortem
Project Pre-Mortem
§ Prospective hindsight
§ Opposite of post-mortem
§ Happens at beginning
§ Imagine failure
§ Why did it fail?
Benefits
§ Everyone gets to be heard.
§ Everyone is of equal importance.
§ Increases likelihood of spotting risk
§ Promotes collective understanding
Conclusion
Thank You!