Indispensable Project Manager
- 1. Frank P. Saladis PMP,PMI Fellow Manager / Leader / Volunteer
- 2. Background AT&T Long Lines, BCS and Corp. ITS Cisco Systems Professional Services Past President PMI® NYC Chapter Past Editor allPM.com Past Chair PMI Ed SIG Founder International PM Day PMI Person of the year 2006 PMI Fellow 2013 PMI DistinguishedContribution 2015
- 3. “TheValue of Project Management can be seen in any skyline” International Project Management Day – 4 November 2021
- 5. What has been the very best thing about the past year for you? What new skills or talents did you discover in yourself? What projects made you feel most alive and why? What work contributions do you feel most proud of? What did you do that most contributes to your personal mission and vision? What's the most meaningful thing you did for another person?
- 6. If you could write one news headline about you and make it come true, what would it be? What will be your number one focus during these next six months? What would you have to believe about yourself to make the coming months your best ever? What limiting beliefs would be useful to drop? How will you help others to be more successful? What "Super Hero skills" would you like to have to accelerate your success and others?
- 7. Now, with fresh insights bubbling in your brain, identify some action items. Get moving, so that the next 6 months will be your most enjoyable, productive, and giving season of your life.
- 8. Seth Goodin
- 9. What are your daily leadership activities? How do you plan and utilize your leadership time?
- 10. Behavior Percent of time spent Ideal Percent of time you should devote Informing Directing Clarifying Persuading Collaborating Brainstorming/ envisioning Reflecting (Quiet time) Observing Disciplining Resolving interpersonal conflict Praising / Recognizing
- 11. Is there a gap between what you actually do and how you should spend your time and energy? What behaviors are taking up too much of your leadership time? Where should you be spending your leadership energy? What strategies can be employed to move you closer to your ideal distribution of behaviors?
- 12. 1. To do all aspects of my leadership duties well, I need to improve _______ 2. If I were better at _______, I would excel relative to my peers 3. If I improved _______, I would resolve an ongoing problem 4. Feedback from several sources indicate I should improve _______ 5. In the future, my organization will need more people who are effective at _______ 6. To advance to the next level of leadership within my organization I should learn more about ______ 7. The reasons why I should continue my personal development include: ____________________
- 13. “I was going to buy a copy of The Power of PositiveThinking, and then I thought: What the hell good would that do? Ronnie Shakes
- 14. How are project managers perceived by other managers, peers, and associates? Mudslinging –What are the perceived negatives about project managers and project management?
- 15. Brand “you” - One word that describes you Honest Authentic Friendly What do you value? (in your place of business, in your personal life) Know who you are Define your values Consistency is vital Know your customers
- 16. What are the characteristics of the successful project manager?
- 17. The Key Competencies of a Project Manager 1. Communications Skills-verbal, written 2. Leadership Skills 3. Organizing Skills-planning, time management 4. Interpersonal Skills 5. Negotiating Skills-Diplomacy and mediating 6. Team Building Skills 7. Technical Skills Emphasis on professionalism in planning and execution
- 19. Accomplishability: your ability to achieve and deliver valued results. Value/cost: the value delivered perception relative to the cost. Supply/Demand: the market dynamics of your position, skills, etc. Likeability: how others perceive you.
- 20. If you don’t focus on becoming indispensable, your value will be limited and your worth in society decreases every day You become less relevant!
- 21. A positive attitude and an awareness of how to build brand 'you' are as crucial as your team making skills. AnnaTims
- 22. Importance Urgent Interruptions, Some meetings Fire drills Crises, Pressing problems Deadline driven projects, True emergencies Prevention Maintenance Relationship building Recreation Trivia, Pleasant activities Easy stuff, Busy work Low High High High
- 23. Some possibilities: Instill doubt that you can be replaced Create a sense of the risk your departure would have on customer relations or profit Exploit gaps in the system – be the only one who fully understands a process (Caution - these actions may limit your ability to grow)
- 24. Our work must create value and bring a “gift” to others each day In other words, what you do is appreciated and people look forward to working with you We must overcome our “Voice of Judgment” (The excuses that keep us playing small) We must “think indispensable”
- 25. Inventory your value traits How are you different? What key skills, knowledge, or other factors do you bring to your organization? What new skills should you pursue? How do you know you are valuable? The management of value
- 26. Critical Vital Central Essential Necessary Required Crucial Obligatory Fundamental Key Must Have A Keeper YOU
- 27. What is one thing that people associate with you in service to your organization’s mission? Be excellent at it Make it a habit, not just a goal, to collaborate with others and exchange knowledge Carry a spirit of generosity into your work without undue worry that you will be taken advantage of
- 28. Never underestimate the importance of the way you look (image, dress) Smile, be up beat, supportive, and positive Create a CV and update it with the things that make you valuable Ask questions and learn from people in other departments Create and sustain an active social media presence (Linked in,Twitter)
- 29. CreateValue and bring a “gift” to others Become an artist – a positive deviant, a linchpin Refuse to be limited by business as usual Create a professional impression online Never allow anyone to tag inappropriate pictures of you online
- 30. That “extra” something you contribute each day Smile Thoughtful gesture Kind action Teaching or mentoring ForgetWIIFM Find something that differentiates you from others, something people will remember
- 31. The Professional – Truthful, Ethical, Fair, Principles The Financial – Managing Cost, FinancialValue The Aesthetic – Quality and Customer Satisfaction The Social – Team building, relationships The Political – Influencing, managing conflict The Leader – Sets an example, create confidence, motivates, builds loyalty
- 32. Indispensable Delivering massive impact A mindset wrapped with skills and attributes Indispensable people are the types that you can hand any project, put in nearly any role, issue a challenge to, and they simply make things happen by understanding what must get done and adapting their skills accordingly.
- 33. Irreplaceable Locked in a role Harboring a finite set of skills and knowledge mindset wrapped with skills and attributes Keeping information from others A false sense that if you protect your area you will have job security for life If you can’t be replaced, you can’t be promoted.You can’t grow your company or your profile, because it can’t move forward without you.You can’t grow, move on, do different things, expand your horizons
- 34. Do more than your job description Don’t wait for the “pat on the back” Anticipate needs Make yourself essential Display optimism, no whining or complaining Stay connected “befriend” your boss and associates Serve others, not yourself Strengthen your weak links
- 35. Build your team to sail the ship without you. Teach them everything you know, and hire people smarter than you. Equip yourself to always bring something powerful, unique, and pivotal to your work, but make it a methodology, not a checklist that’s unique to any one discipline.
- 36. They are the ultimate in adaptability Thrive on whatever gets thrown at them Their skills and techniques are unique, and ever-evolving. Which means that few businesses can thrive for the long term without them.
- 37. They areAuthentic Leaders To lead is to measurably help others succeed –Tom Peters No matter what the situation, the “great” manager’s first response is to always think about the individual concerned and how things can be arranged to help that individual experience success – Marcus Buckingham
- 38. Over deliver! 1. Be there first 2. Attitude – I’m here to win 3. Go to the next level – go for the championship 4. Play against someone better than you 5. Do a personal SWOT 6. Network 7. Understand your customer 8. Put your ego aside 9. Uplift your Brand – Don’t be “satisfied” 10. Give back 11. Be demanding but fair – no clock watchers 12. Know your team
- 39. Network as much as possible Be excellent at something Create something useful Innovate – look for different ways to solve a problem Make others feel good Share and teach, mentor and coach Commit to make a difference
- 40. Final thoughts: No one is actually totally indispensable The real goal is to become a “go to” person Project managers should be sought after for their wide range of skills and experience Become Invaluable
- 41. P - Professionalism at all times R - Respect for all stakeholders O - Ownership of each assignment J - Judicial decision maker E - Excellence in execution C – Communicator T –Team player and team builder
- 42. M - Motivator A - Action oriented N - Negotiator A - Always available G - Genuine commitment E - Energetic and empowering R - Responsible for success
- 43. Frank P. Saladis PMP, PMI Fellow saladispmp@msn.com Check out my book “ Positive Leadership in Project Management”
- 44. Linchpin:AreYou Indispensable? Seth Goodin BrassTackThinking – IndispensableVs. Irreplaceable Becoming Indispensable,Adele Scheele Becoming Indispensable – Lessons From NASA and Oprah, Robin Sparks Dustin M.Wax, lifehack.org