Nobody Likes Being the Heavy

I don't know where I first saw it, but I've often heard it said, "If everyone likes the Project Manager, he's not doing his job."

Posted: Oct 11, 2012 11:54 AM

Well its all about Team Work! - the PM can be seen as being authoritative figure! teams can resent this approach... therefore, treat your team with respect! trust them that they will fulfil their tasks on time ! too much chasing demonstrates mistrust! it is often lack of understanding therefore explain again and again what is expected from them... have frequent team meetings, let them know how they are doing! and praise good work. Difficult teams ! not pulling their weight! mmm! are they overworked! having too much to do ! this goes back to Resource Planning! Personally I do believe that teams want to be successful given the right tools and time to deliver... the Project Manager is overall responsible and sometimes the odd person may hinder the project from moving forward... look into it! and ask the right questions to determine what is going on... it can be redeemed!


Posted: Aug 13, 2015 7:55 PM

Good PMs are disliked by about half of the extended project team at any given time. It is simply part of being a good PM--one being a leader.

The reason is relatively simple. As a leader, you are probably distributing decision making to as close to the issues as possible. By empowering your team to do this, the project runs more efficiently and faster. However, when your team comes to loggerheads (they cannot make the decision), they escalate it to you and you make do the deed. Almost by definition, half the people are not going to like that decision, or you. As time goes on the whole team does dislike you, just not at the same time. In the average you are doing fine as it comes out to less than half. If you cannot make a decision and escalate it yourself, then a little more than half of the team dislike the decision (the math does not work, these are people, not spreadsheets).

If you are not being a leader, you have an entirely different issue to deal with and the team hates you for another reason. Not to worry, we can all sharpen our saw on this one and should continually be looking for ways to improve our leadership skills.

Just remember, we are not working to gain friends in our projects, we are looking for project success. Friends come later as success is the best magnate for authentic ones.

Cheers,
Todd C. Williams

Posted: Sep 29, 2015 12:46 PM

When a manager wants everyone to like them they become ineffectual. They avoid conflict. They spend too much time trying to appease the team member that is causing problems. They foster resentment from the high performing members of the team. And it keeps the team in conflict with each other.


Posted: Oct 9, 2016 8:14 AM

Thanks for sharing.

Posted: Jul 5, 2017 2:10 PM

Good discussion!

Posted: Oct 8, 2019 9:36 AM

Dear Al
Interesting this reflection on the topic: "Nobody Likes Being the Heavy"

Thanks for sharing

What advice did you give her?

Posted: Feb 2, 2020 3:33 AM

Well project manager should work as conductor of orchestra & make sure that instrument are running in harmony. To make orchestra effective project manager should set a initial beats that sets path forward.

Posted: May 6, 2020 12:28 AM