Copyright 2012 SEBA Solutions

Transcription

1 PM Skills are valuable "Project management skills are surprisingly rare in business, even though they are possibly the most important skills needed to be a good operating executive" 1

2 Job hunting is constant "If I could write a headline that sums up the last ten years of the American (and other rich country's) workplace-and the next thirty years as well-it would be this: "That Job is Gone! 2

3 In my experience, the most qualified person gets the job and/or promotion 1. True 2. Mostly True 3. Mostly False 4. False 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 48% 29% 23% 0% True Mostly True Mostly False False 3

4 Agenda Professional Image - The choice is yours! Competence - A given The Big Picture - Where do you fit? Work Relationships - Follow the Golden Rule Questions! 4

5 Professional Image Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men Proverbs 22:29 5

6 Professional Image He who controls images, controls everything! Robert Townsend 6

7 Professional Image o First impressions on a new job/project are critical o These last regardless of the quality (good or bad) of your work o Always maintain a positive attitude o Show up 5 minutes early for everything 7

8 Professional Image o Stay fashionably late o A popular rule - show up for work five minutes ahead of your boss and leave five minutes after him. 8

9 Professional Image o Dress for success o If casual is allowed, be dressed up casual oparticipate in a professional organization o PMI this should be obvious ochoose one or more that your company is active in o Get some type of professional certification 9

10 Professional Image o Have good social and etiquette skills o Have civic duties (The more visible the better) o Participate in company sponsored charitable events and activities You should be unobtrusively visible Do and be seen doing. Things do not pass for what they are but what they seem. To be of use and to know how to show it, is to be twice as useful. The Art of Worldly Wisdom, Gracian 10

11 The leaders three levels and above 1. Know me personally 2. Know my name and contributions 3. Know my name 4. Wouldn t know me if I backed into their car in the parking lot 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% 29% Know me personally 34% Know my name and contributions 9% 29% Know my name Wouldn t know me if I backed into their car in the parking lot 11

12 Which of the following would be the most beneficial for the long term career advancement for a new college graduate 1. Two years country club membership and golf lessons 2. A Masters Degree 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 58% Two years country club membership and golf lessons 42% A Masters Degree 12

13 Competence Competent - Suitable! Sufficient! Qualified!* *Qualifications are only for the people who need them 13

14 Competence o Brilliance is not a requirement for success o Consider the 55,000-plus members of Mensa (I.Q. of 135 required to get in the back door) The average member of Mensa makes less than a plumber each year 14

15 Competence o Competence is shown by doing a thorough and complete job. o Always go to management with solutions not problems o Be able to deal with fuzzy situations that don t make sense oa project managers life is fuzzy! 15

16 Competence o Get the task at hand done then try to change the system o Be flexible o Assess the consequences of bending the rules to get things done, then bend them as necessary o Make sure you assess the consequences 16

17 Competence o Hit home runs in big games o Trot around the bases o If you aren t playing in big games practice your home run swing o Look for the simple and/or overlooked solution o KISS whenever and wherever you can 17

18 Competence o Formally submit at least 1 new idea annually o Don t complain CHANGE 18

19 Competence o Conduct professional meetings o Have an Agenda o Enforce the Agenda o Make Decisions o Assign Actions o Issue Minutes 19

20 Know where you fit in the big picture By the time the fool has learned the rules of the game, the players have dispersed. African Proverb 20

21 Know where you fit in the big picture o What is the goal of your company/organization? o How does what you do line up with that goal? o How does your project line up with that goal? o Your company should be flying in formation o You need to know exactly where you fit 21

22 My CFO would say our project managers understanding of the company s financials is an 1. A 2. B 3. C 4. D 5. F 60% 50% 40% 20% 0% 28% 6% 6% 10% A B C D F 22

23 Know where you fit in the big picture o Know how money works in your company o Know your industry o Learn and keep up with the business aspects of your company o Who are your company s competitors? o What is your company s stock price and bond ratings, etc. o What are the publications that address your industry? 23

24 Know where you fit in the big picture o Find out why things are done the way they are o In a new position you will learn this is the way you do this and this is the way you do that o Most people never question this o Questioning this is necessary to make a bigger impact o Know the inputs and outputs of your job o Knowledge to improve the system on a larger scale 24

25 Know where you fit in the big picture o Understand the evaluation and promotion process o High level management s perspective o Customer perspective o Your boss s perspective 25

26 Companies layoff/downsize/right-size senior personnel and hire junior level personnel to do the same work 1. Frequently 2. Commonly 3. Occasionally 4. Never 60% 40% 20% 0% 56% 18% 24% 3% Frequently Commonly Occasionally Never 26

27 Work Relationships Your job is probably worth 50 percent of what it was in real terms ten years ago. And who knows? It may very well not exist in five to ten years...stop worrying about technology. Start worrying about people who trust you. Ignore Everybody: and 39 Other Keys to Creativity, Hugh MacLeod 27

28 Work Relationships o Develop and maintain good relationships with peers, management and subordinates o Follow the golden rule o Never wrestle with a pig o You get muddy and the pig enjoys it 28

29 Work Relationships o Communicate Face to Face as much as possible. o Especially the first time you deal with someone o overused by some people o Adapt your style presentation/communication to the person you are communicating with o Develop polished presentation skills o Don t forget the five P s o Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance 29

30 Work Relationships o You should have excellent persuasive communication skills o Read sales books! o Don t be surprised when people don t do what is obviously right and logical o When you start a new job/project don t be surprised if people don t like you or like you there o Take your time and fit in 30

31 Work Relationships o Get along well with the union and hourly workers o Treat them with respect and as customers o They can teach you a lot if you are humble 31

32 Work Relationships o Don t be surprised when you get knifes in your back (or chest) o Only throw knifes back in self defense, never for revenge. o Don t take it personal, its part of the work environment, but this is easier said than done. o Never forget - Smiling Faces Tell Lies o 32

33 Work Relationships o Bridge gaps! Every organization has natural divisions o Learn and be empathetic to the other sides position otreat the secretary like a Queen or King at all times o They are in the know o They may control your future as much or more than your boss o Never spread rumors true or untrue 33

34 Almost Finally o Know Thyself o Be sure being a project manager or leading people is really what you want to do before you jump in o Be careful what you ask for sometimes you get it o Begin with the end in mind 34

35 Finally o Whatever you do make it a conscious choice to be a professional or not be a professional 35

36 Questions Questions Questions Questions Questions Questions Questions Questions Questions Questions 36