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Projects and Pancakes
Elizabeth is a freelance writer and project manager living and working in London. She runs The Otobos Group, a project communications consultancy specializing in project management.
The second annual International Project Management Day is this November 2nd. Organizers are suggesting we hold ‘recognition breakfasts’ to celebrate our achievements. It’s an admirable aim, but as a profession, do we really need orange juice and pancakes to feel valued?
The objective of International Project Management Day is simple: to encourage organizations using project management methodologies to plan an event to (and I quote from the website) “truly demonstrate appreciation for the achievements of project managers and their teams.”
It’s an admirable aim. After all, project managers are in an unenviable position. If the project goes well, the sponsor says, “We didn’t have any problems. Why did we need a project manager?” If the project goes badly, the sponsor says, “This project was a disaster. Why did we bother with a project manager?” OK, so I exaggerate things slightly, but you’ll probably agree that sometimes being a project manager can feel like a thankless task. So it’s a nice idea that someone wants to demonstrate some appreciation in a tangible way — but by making me a cup of coffee?
I believe in celebrating success. When a project delivers, or a phase closes down or an important milestone is reached on my team, we celebrate it. Sometimes it’s just an email from the sponsor …
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