My name is Liam Kennedy, and I am the new certified project manager of the project. So far, I have worked not only on software projects. As a certified project manager with a lot of experience, I have encountered many product development initiatives.
Coincidentally or not, some of the problems I hear about here are familiar to me from my previous job, and coincidentally or not, I am the complete opposite of my previous project manager colleague. Again, this is based on the information I received. Reference: Certified project manager shares about his career, https://projectmanagement.news.blog/2020/12/27/certified-project-manager-shares-about-his-career/
The previous certified project manager does not matter
I want us to clarify the principles of work from the very beginning so that everything can go smoothly.
First of all, I don’t care how the previous certified project manager behaved. I am FOR a friendly atmosphere in the team, and formalities like “you” are completely unnecessary. We have wonderful names, and everyone deserves their place here, and we should not feel inferior to the other – just different positions, different responsibilities. Reference: The new Certified Project Manager in the company, https://agileprojectmanagers.blogspot.com/2020/12/the-new-certified-project-manager-in.html
Mentioning responsibilities, the second thing we need to do as a team is to distribute our tasks as accurately as possible. Have each of you point out your strengths and weaknesses, as well as areas where you can lend a hand to a colleague if needed. In this way, everyone will feel at home and work as calmly as possible. Also, don’t worry about me interfering with your work, because it can’t happen. We clarify the tasks, set deadlines, and then if you want to have fun for 5 hours and work 2 or vice versa if you want to listen to music and do not communicate with others as you work, do and work in any way you want, but meet the deadlines. I can’t, and I wouldn’t force a person to work in a specific way because I think it’s wrong. I don’t want you to worry about your superiors either – they are my problem.
The certified project manager recommends Agile and Scrum development
Regarding the project, I think it is very suitable for an Agile way of working. I suggest you do stand up meetings for 10-15 minutes maximum every day and to put a board where everyone can mark the daily tasks and the progress of the subprojects. Since I have seen with my own eyes negative reactions to this method and the board, I want to say – it is not to keep track of whether you work. Everything on board is much easier to manage and any omissions and problems are noticed much faster. Reference: The need for a certified project manager, https://projectmanagement.freesite.host/the-need-for-a-certified-project-manager/
In the meantime, if someone has a problem or just wants to talk – I’m here. Formal or informal, I am always ready to talk. Everyone makes mistakes and you don’t have to worry about that. The only thing I do not tolerate is repeating the same mistakes. This means that the one who allows them does not care.
I cannot allow such an attitude. To succeed, you must have a work ethic, it is the thing that will pull you up. Hard work beats talent ☺. And remember – my duty to you is not to sabotage you and tell you how to work, but to be able to combine the skills you already have and help you if you have a problem so that the project can be completed. If you look even purely selfish, this way I manage to deliver projects and I can rise, and you who have completed them perfectly will also take the ladder up.
I suggest you choose as a team how often to meet, apart from the stand-ups, to discuss general progress and problems, but not more than once a month. Of course, if something serious happens, we will make an exception.
And last but not least – fun. I know that we are different people and some of us do not like to give a lot of effort, as well as workaholics. I like to use my lunch breaks and relaxation room. Your health (physical and mental) is more important than a project. There have been projects before us, there will be after us, but if we are not in shape, there is no way to deal with them. You can also consider gatherings outside of work – I accept any ideas, and the best – I will try to be borne by the company as an expense.
I cannot promise you that everything will be perfect and that I will be able to be everywhere at any moment. What I can promise you is that I will do my best to strengthen the slightly cracked team and to show with joint efforts that we are the best. Also, if you need any training or courses, do not hesitate to ask. I will try to provide it. Reference: Certified project manager for their training, https://projectmanagement.wpdevcloud.com/certified-project-manager-for-their-training/
BVOP, PMP, and PRINCE2 training
I can recommend BVOP, Prince2, or PMP training. But if you want for example ITIL also, you are welcome to request some classes. Have in mind that the BVOP methodology combines all modern ITIL, software, and Agile work models. Reference: Review of the BVOP Certified Project Manager program, https://www.businesspad.org/review-of-the-bvop-certified-project-manager-program/
You can find some good references for project management courses and certifications below. Don’t forget to check them out. I have attached links to PolicyMatters.net, AgileProgramming.org, CIO.com, and many more media for you.
When I started working, the manager of the company, Mr. James, told me about the current state of the company and the problems. We discussed with him potential corrective actions and preventive measures that we intend to introduce.
I feel from all of you and the general atmosphere that the relations between the people are tense, the people are dissatisfied and there is a lack of motivation to work.
As my mission as a certified project manager, I want to introduce greater transparency in communication between employees and management. Reference: Qualities of the certified project manager, https://projectmanagement.over-blog.com/qualities-of-the-certified-project-manager.html Creating an environment of transparency where we can talk openly about work, and you feel comfortable coming to me with everything that comes to mind, can do wonders for collective motivation.
Therefore, the first step will be a survey that you have already received in your emails. We send it to each of you to receive feedback from all people in the organization.
Stakeholders in the project
Next week we have organized a meeting with the client, which will be attended by me and Mr. Ivanov and we will discuss the current problems and future actions on our part. With this meeting, we aim to assure the client that there is a new project manager in the company, who will be personally responsible for the successful completion of the project next year.
We have purchased project management software to help me and you. The software we purchased offers features for creating charts and reports, sharing documents, tracking budgets, allocating resources, managing tasks, communicating with teams, and more. We have organized an introductory training for working with this software, which will be attended by all employees working on projects.
With this meeting and sharing this information, I want to encourage you in your development. Let’s accept the mistakes that were made before and learn a lesson.
I know that as a new person in the company you will need time to trust me as a professional, but I believe that leaders set an example. I want to give you an example of how with hard work and an optimistic outlook, even in the face of enormous challenges, we can cope together.
We, humans, are unique, with individual desires and complex ideals. No matter how carefully we plan everything, no strategy can be forever: we will make adjustments and changes until we find what works and motivates us all.
Let me summarize. I have been working as a certified project manager for over four years. I have managed medium and large projects, which has contributed to my better communication with clients, better time management, and dealing with problems of various kinds. I am well acquainted with the activities of your company and I am confident that our joint work will be fruitful.
I would like to organize another meeting next week to go through the project plan, implementation, and subsequent completion.
REFERENCES
Top 13 project management certifications for 2020, CIO.com, By Sharon Florentine, https://www.cio.com/article/3210765/top-project-management-certifications.html
The Best Project Management Courses for 2021 and 2022, 2021 Vol. 1, by Marta Cooper, https://www.policymatters.net/best-project-management-courses/
A certified project manager shares their approaches, http://projectmanagers.pbworks.com/w/page/142416129/A%20certified%20project%20manager%20shares%20their%20approaches
The skills of the manager, https://utah.instructure.com/eportfolios/42560/Home/The_skills_of_the_manager
What is Project Management, definitions, and practices, Shirley Parker, Agile Programming, ISSN 26525925, https://agileprogramming.org/what-is-project-management-definitions-and-practices/
What is Project Management?, https://stc-montreal.org/what-is-project-management/
Project management in organizations, https://councils.clark.edu/eportfolios/5793/Home/ProjectManagement
What is Project Management, https://brightonbot.com/what-is-project-management/
The Project Manager and their responsibilities – how to become one, https://wikipedia-lab.org/who-is-project-manager-responsibilities-and-how-to-become-a-project-manager/
What is Project Management – Definitions, processes, practices, and tools, https://phron.org/what-is-project-management-definitions/
To have constant feedback from you, we offer short weekly online meetings in which to discuss the current state of the project, possible problems, and to exchange information in general. These short meetings have always had a positive effect in my experience and I strongly recommend that we implement them.
You will receive two online meeting invitations from me – one for the meeting next week and one for the weekly meeting. If some of the classes are not convenient for you, please suggest new ones at a time convenient for you.
Becoming a project manager is easy. Often, however, problems come after that.
But let me start with the top stakeholders first. From the management’s point of view, the problems often come from vaguely defined rules and expectations, as well as insufficient communication with the Project Manager, which may be due to the lack of some time spent by senior management, but probably also due to the lack of initiative on the part of the Project Manager.
As reasons for this situation, on the part of the Project Manager, I would point out the lack of personal skills and problem-solving skills, inability to motivate a team, irregular communication with the client, and last but not least overestimation of abilities, which has led to an erroneous assessment of the time needed to implement the project, as well as to a constant search for the reasons for failure in others, but not in himself. In case the deadlines for implementation are not set by the Project Manager, he had to convince the management that the implementation time is not enough and many problems will arise, which will negatively affect the final result.
Also, the Project Manager has failed to gain the trust and respect of management, so his boss accepts the words of the client as pure truth, and does not listen to him.
Lack of sufficient time and poor organization of the work process creates stress and tension and leads to inefficiency. Employees often have some support from the Project Manager regarding the implementation of the project and hold daily meetings, but are sometimes highly demotivated, and accusations and threats to them bring uncertainty and further escalation of tension.
The main reason for the problems is not in the programmers but the lack of personal skills of the Project Manager.
At this stage, I would not allow myself to advise you whether or not to continue working with the client in question, because I do not know him and accordingly I cannot accept what is written about him as 100% true. The client is not obliged to understand our work, because if it were so, most likely he would not need us, because he would finish it himself, not assign it to us. Direct accusations against the client are unacceptable and contradict the basic principle “The client is always right”.
Communication with the client and regular provision of information about the progress of the project and the achieved results is essential for maintaining good relationships. In my opinion, the main reason for the problem is the lack of communication skills and untimely informing the client by the Project Manager.
For starters, it would be very helpful to talk to team members to hear their views and suggestions on how to improve the workflow. Then I recommend that you discuss the situation with the other members of senior management and taking into account the opinion of the team to introduce clear rules for work and set specific expectations of employees.
In every organization there are such type of meetings, they are, in my opinion, mandatory in order to monitor and track the development and motivation of colleagues and whether the projects are moving in the right direction. In relation to meetings and communication, I prefer to approach in my own way, if I have no effect, I will ask other colleagues of my rank to gain experience and try another model.
I think that when colleagues see that the PM is also engaged and interested with them equally, the motivation is different.
Any kind of individual meetings at a convenient time for both parties with colleagues are accepted in order to clarify their concerns or to check how they are motivated, what they lack in their work, what they would like to change or consultation, it is important to we have communication.
Of course, last but not least, I will inform that everything is subject to change and I am open to team suggestions, so that we have the same vision and attitude, improve our work, communication and motivation, because this would certainly bring and experience on my part to create a bonus scheme or other type of material stimulation for my teams.