it’s project management, baby! project management!

It’s Project management, Baby!

Project management!

@sdaparatus

If you have been following my blogs (at www.paratuseduca:on.ca)

you have seen that leadership is the recurring theme.

But Leadership without results is: at best fri?ering away :me & resources; and, at

worst mindless tyranny.

@sdaparatus

People have asked me how did I accomplish the results I did leading responses to large disasters?

The answer:

Project management, Baby!

Project management!

@sdaparatus

When I entered the military, I had no idea that that the training I received and the rules developed for infantry units were invaluable in leading project teams.

Here is my top ten:

@sdaparatus

#1 -‐ Plan.

To survive combat, the infantry leader must think beyond the immediate situa:on and assess possible outcomes.

The project manager should defines how objec:ves will be met in terms of scope, requirements, schedule, resources, risks, cost, quality and performance.

@sdaparatus

#2 -‐ Study your Intel.

In combat, knowing the situa:on on the ground is key to effec:vely adjus:ng your posi:on.

In project management, team composi:on, costs, weather and projects requirements will, most likely, change before comple:on, so stay ahead of it.

@sdaparatus

#3 -‐ Check your kit.

The tradi:on of the sergeant doing a weapons check is mirrored by the project manager’s check on available resources.

Are the resource management & procurement management plans consistent with the project plan?

@sdaparatus

#4 -‐ Check your communica<ons.

An infantry leader has a range of communica:on tool to stay in touch with those direc:ng the opera:on and those execu:ng the orders.

Your communica:on tools should be diverse and tailored to the needs of all levels of internal and external stakeholders.

@sdaparatus

#5 -‐ Know your team.

Like the infantry leader, the project manager must be aware of team members’ capabili:es as missions and projects fail due to the departure of a key contributor.

Have adequate backup and to shape your team so its overall performance is greater than any one individual.

@sdaparatus

#6 -‐ Never leave a team member behind.

Combat team members must know that the team leader will take care of them.

The project manager oSen demands extreme dedica:on from team members. In return, team members should be rewarded for successful project comple:on.

@sdaparatus

#7 -‐ Know the territory.

The infantry leader must be able to use the lay of the land advantageously.

Likewise, a project manager must know the circumstances surrounding the project and must be able to internalize and ar:culate the goals of the project.

@sdaparatus

#8 -‐ Be decisive.

When an opportunity for failure looms, infantry leader is the person to evaluate the threat, enact a recovery strategy, and monitor the situa:on un:l the danger passes.

Above all, the infantry leader and project manager must provide a clear vision of success.

@sdaparatus

#9 -‐ Lead.

The combat infantry leader oSen must make difficult decisions.

Project managers are not involved in life-‐or-‐death decisions, but the stakes can be high.

@sdaparatus

#10 -‐ The mission isn’t over un<l the paperwork is done.

Once the mission is complete, the first order of business is to debrief & document the results.

As a project management: document the project, detail the results, move from implementa:on to sustained opera:ons, and document lessons learned.

@sdaparatus

Are you a Churchill or a character from Horrible Bosses?

@sdaparatus

Are you truly happy with the your leadership efforts or those of people who work for you so far in 2014?

If you answered even a slight “no” to this it’s 9me to have a serious conversa9on about stepping up to leadership! Click here for your free mo9va9on assessment and types:"

it’s project management, baby! project management!

Leadership & Management