No-Nonsense Leadership and Project Management
I am excited to announce that I have added two new seminars to my menu of offerings:
I created these seminars based on frequent feedback and interest that many of you have shared with me… as well as based on my experiences and observations of seminars that many companies sorely need. Descriptions of these seminars can be found on this web site by going here.
I agree that your job may be more difficult, but it is not impossible. Here is my simple definition of leadership: Leadership is not about the ability of those around you to lead; it’s about your ability to lead despite that which is happening around you. Effective leaders rise to the occasion. By the way, when I talk about leaders, I am not just referring to people who have others reporting to them. Of course, a person (such as a manager) who has others reporting to him or her on a “solid line,” or a project manager or team leader, to whom others report on a “dotted line,” are clearly in leadership positions. However, you can be a leader without anyone reporting to you if your job requires decision-making, negotiating, influencing others, being creative, and making things happen—to name a few.
I have been asked a number of times, “Are the best project managers those who have made no big mistakes?” Not necessarily. I applaud those few PMs who have made no significant mistakes; you are a minority. However, I think mistakes have great value, as long as you are learning from them and not repeating them. No one intentionally makes big mistakes, nor do they want them in their work history, but adversity can help sharpen one’s work habits and character. I have made some big mistakes, and white I would not want to relive any of them, I believe that I have far more to offer others as a trainer, consultant and mentor because of them. If a person consistently makes only small mistakes, I question his or her willingness to take personal risks and stretch himself or herself on behalf of the project and organization.