In recent postings we examined the formula P+M=O where the P is people, M is motivation and the O is opportunity. In the process we looked at the need for project managers and organizations to have a vision of their futures… answering the “What do I/We want to be when we grow up?” question. We then looked at organizational and personal vision as the answer. People + Motivation = Opportunity.
Here I want to speak to opportunity. Opportunity created by the project you are managing.
Let’s assume the most positive scenario in that both the organization’s and your personal visions are aligned. You know the business. You understand how and why this project is integral to the success of the enterprise. The people around you value your work and your counsel.
Now, as an experienced project management professional plugged into the day to day of the business you recognize that you have one great big opportunity on your hands – the project you are responsible for managing and the positive potential it has to add value to the enterprise.
Developmental projects can make or break a company. They can make or break careers too. As an example one of my clients has a project to examine the feasibility of a fully digital railway. Yes of course track, ties, engines, engineers and box cars will be there in the future but virtually everything else will be managed, run, monitored and scheduled digitally. Just one of the possibilities of such a system is that it will be able to safely and efficiently increase the length of trains from 100 or so cars to trains with more than 200 cars!
The managers in charge of such projects understand they have an immense opportunity. The people they work with, including decision makers and executives, also understand what is at stake and have respect for the project management craft. It is by delivering on these highly visible, high risk/return projects that our colleagues become Chief Project Officers. Yes, of course, they are successful because of their project management skills but equally important they succeed because they fully understand the business and how their project has the potential to contribute to its success.
Carl Sergeant, PMP, brings an entrepreneurial, results-based focus to his consulting and presenting practice based on more than three decades of project, program and portfolio management experience.
Carl Sergeant can be contacted at 1 905 466 7778 or [email protected]
