Power of Project Leadership by Susan Madsen

 

Susanne Madsen, is a professor of Leadership and Ethics, at Utah Valley University. LinkedIn indicates that she has more than 7 years’ experience in teaching project leadership. She uses this book to successfully draw out and convey in laymen language and non-technical language theory how an individual can expand a career from project manager to project leader. In essence, the title for this book should have been titled “7 Keys” or “7 Keys to Transform Oneself.” 

It is a great guide. There is not a pill that someone can swallow and become a great leader, let alone a project leader. It can take a lifetime of learning and experimenting to become a successful project leader.  Can one read this book and automatically become a great leader? Can one read a book any book and become a leader? In this case, Susan Madsen presents 7 KEYS, somewhat intuitive at best. One can argue whether there are 7 or 8 or 10, but these cover the breadth and depth of the landscape:

1. Be authentic,
2. Lead with vision,
3. Improve and innovate,
4. Empower the team,
5. Get close to your stakeholders,
6. Establish a solid foundation, and
7. Work with intent. In other words, the project leader has to learn to maximize the use of time and delegated skills.

Can these skills work for an individual who is a manager or executive in a setting other than business? The answer is yes. The author presents the “how” to be authentic with your team, “how” to lead with vision, in other words, the “how’s” and “whys” the 7 keys are important. She does not mention how long it takes for the 7 keys to succeed. It is a matter of application of key by key, principle by principle. In what sequence should the 7 principles be executed? The author does not indicate and it should not matter. Instead, collectively, these traits represents skills that one needs to change one’s behavior and succeed as a leader. Aren’t all people authentic? Don’t all people look to overcome the status quo? Don’t we all attempt to recognize our mistakes, understand our personality type, and word to overcome roadblocks whether at work or in their personal life.   Either way, the author, has created a masterpiece because she lays out a set of questions to get one started in changing or enhancing their behavior, presents quotes from people in the field, regarding a key or principle, and a checklist of the end state. The author presents the roadmap. The “how” and the “end state”, what the future good project leader can look like in terms of personalities. The key is that this list as I have found has to be customized for the persona and place of employment. There are proverbial roadblocks no matter where one works. There is a multitude of people who have different career goals, personality traits and learning habits. It can take a lifetime to learn these skills, let alone implement these skills. The author does not mention any expectation that perhaps the reader already has several of these skills. I would. I recommend this book, since I have used several of these traits and not in the order presented by the order to enhance my leadership skills.