What are the top 5 tips you would give a PM to improve their luck on projects?

Alison's Contribution:

This is a fairly lighted hearted response written after a fairly tumultuous couple of weeks on the stock market.

"top 5 tips you would give a PM to improve their luck on projects"

I'm interested why you used the word "luck" so let me know what was in your mind when you wrote the question.

My personal style is to find inspiration anywhere I can. Here are five quotes (amongst many) which will help point the way to improving your "luck".

1. The harder I work, the luckier I get - Samuel Goldwyn
2. Perfect practice makes perfect - Vince Lombardi
3. Nothing is particularly hard if you divide it into small jobs. - Henry Ford
4. Few things are impossible to diligence and skill. Great works are performed not by strength, but perseverance. - Samuel Johnson
5. If you go in for argument, take care of your temper. Your logic, if you have any, will take care of itself. - Joseph Farrell

Now for the not so light hearted - my tips

1. One quote which often springs to mind is "If you aren't part of the solution, you are part of the problem."

2. I believe projects have "personalities", and good project managers foster that sense of identify and cohesiveness to help drive success. The little things - starting and finishing meetings on time help drive the culture of getting things done.

3. Remember to publish and promote the success of the programme throughout it's life - constantly being seen to be adding value to the organisation is a key skill in uncertain times.

4. Be prepared for a change in scope. Most long programmes start with an identified target. However the economic and business climate changes may dictate that not only must you try and hit that moving target but that you need to also take on the mantle of a new target as well.

5. Core skills to develop:
- Being able to deal with ambiguity and multiple options.
- Being able to lead a team to achieve things (get things done) when you are helping management undertake the decisions to provide direction.
- Confidentiality. Being able to not give away anything in your manner when you know things will change but management are not ready to make an announcement.
- Being able to manage people differently to get the best performance from them.
- Being able to learn quickly. You don't necessarily need to be the best, but you need to pickup the essentials PDQ.

There is an art in stating the obvious - another core skill which I try to practice perfectly every day (with varying degrees of success).

Last but by no means least, be nice to people on your way up. You never know who you'll meet on your way down.

I hope you get the answers you seek. Let me know how you get on.

Alison Murray
posted 6 months ago