PM-Interface

By Mike Adams, PMP® 
President Elect - PMI Otowi Bridge 
@MichaelAdamsPMP

Holy smoke, the closing speaker was incredible! She earned her standing ovation, and gave us all something to think about as we head out into our respective jobs back home.

However, before the closing speaker, we had one final day of PMI X-change, where I met with two folks who discussed innovation from the context of working within the confines of forwarding a specific strategy. One of the most interesting ideas put forth was that innovation can be encouraged by simplifying complexity into categories, which allows people to spend less time sorting out the complexity and more time imagining how to apply what is already there in new ways. Aside from that, a safe environment is essential, and the willingness to take a chance and fail.

After breakfast, I checked in at the PMI Community Area for "Ask an Expert Sessions." The experts were busy, and discussions for me ranged from working with unwilling team members to exploring scheduling software options with the manager of a PMO. I always pause when someone asks for a software solution to their problem, because so often, process can fix what software will never touch. This situation may have had some of that, but our PMO director is also in need of some robust software. At the close of the hall, and the last "Ask an Expert" session, we got a group picture of the experts, this is no small feat. Experts like to wander around and are easily distracted, so getting them all together to take a photo is challenging, but being project managers, we were able after much effort to accomplished even that task!

Then a few of us experts attended "Scaling Agile" by NK Shrivastava. He discussed some implementations of Agile in huge organizations, which require more structure than most Agile teams appreciate, but when you scale that stuff big, you need controls. I asked a few questions about risk management and planning for mitigation, but decided to leave him alone, as I don't have experience with agile. After the presentation, I asked about Agile in my workplace, particularly with regards to running a software implementation on a fixed budget. He paused, and then said he wouldn't typically employ agile for that sort of project, unless there were a great many unknowns. We all discussed his presentation, along with various ways to scale agile, and somewhere in the back and forth, he let us know that it is a requirement for every person presenting at PMI Congress to have published a white paper on their topic. This prompted me to ask if it is easier to write a white paper than it is to read one...appropriate laughter ensued and we parted ways.

There was time yet in the day for one more session, so I stopped in on "The Promotable Project Manager," by Richard Heaslip, author of "Managing Complex Projects and Programs." His presentation was great. He the findings of studies into the expectations of leadership from project managers in varied organizations. The studies presented the hypothetical situation of an executive encountering a project manager in the hall and saying something like, "I am worried about a specific aspect of your project, and think that this ...may be a solution."

The question being studies was how most PMs respond:

1. Arrange a meeting between the executive and the project's SME accountable for that specific area
2. Listen carefully and communicate the executive's suggestion to the SME
3. In addition to #1 or #2, discuss how the SME might react to the suggestion
4. In addition to #1-#3, the PM discusses their own perspective on the issue
5. In addition to #1 - #4, the PM explores the team or organization's perspective on the issue.

Given those options, most PMs elected to arrange a meeting or relate the executive's comments to the SME. There were some who might also discuss the SME's perspective, but very few who would discuss their own point of view, much less the team's or organization's perspective. It turns out 50% of executives in the same organization want their PMs to respond using #5, while 50% believe this is overstepping their appropriate bounds. The suggestion was for organizations to meet and discuss the level at which they want their PMs to operate, and then communicate that to their PMs and hold each other accountable to it. In terms of a PM, his suggestion is to develop the ability to contextualize your projects from an organizational perspective, but be prepared to craft your answer, based on the audience, and their expectations.

At the close of the congress, we were treated to a presentation by Stacy Allison, author of "Beyond the Limits: A Woman's Triumph on Everest," who gave an incredible presentation about her adventure and lessons in becoming the first American woman ever to reach the summit of Mt. Everest. Stacy did a masterful job of contextualizing every aspect of her journey within the framework of building a team, or making important decisions. Her's may have been one of the best presentations I've ever seen. It wasn't the most funny, or entertaining, but it was real, and pertinent and applicable. I will be thinking about her presentation for months to come. Click here for a short video of her speaking at another event.

After that, we team of PMI experts went to Disney Springs and treated ourselves to Cuban food, and then we wandered around and I found this fifteen foot tall statue built with LEGOs.

This was my first trip to PMI Global congress, and it was great. I enjoyed everyone I met, I loved the speakers and the breakout sessions. I especially enjoyed being a member of ProjectManagement.com's expert brigade. We all expressed the hope that we'll have the opportunity to attend future PMI Congress events as experts.

Thanks for the memories, for the friendships, for the wisdom and for the experiences. The 2015 PMI Global Congress was spectacular!

In the upcoming weeks, the experts will convene to figure out what we'll propose for next year. We'd like to host a panel discussion on Saturday morning, followed by an invitation to book a fifteen minute consulting session with one of us. I'm curious what sorts of sessions would you be interested in from us? We considered exploring how business material is presented. Currently, we all agree that it is generally rather *BORING*

Would you be interested in attending a session, where we explore ways of presenting business and project management material in a more entertaining fashion? Leave your comments and let me know. We will have to write a white paper on it...which I promise won't be boring!

By Mike Adams, PMP® 
President Elect - PMI Otowi Bridge 
@MichaelAdamsPMP

I've never been to a PMI Global Congress before, however, I can say it is something I'll try to attend in the future!

Bright and early this morning, I attended the "Young Professionals Breakfast," which was really enjoyable! Several of us "seasoned" professionals stood at tables to discuss career paths and opportunities with younger PM professionals. As usual, I talked up the benefits of volunteering for your chapter. This has been one of the best and most enjoyable things I've ever done, and it has propelled my career in ways I couldn't have imagined.

After the breakfast, we 'experts,' received VIP seating for today's key-note addres by the Scott Brothers. I don't know what planet I've been living on, but I had never heard of them prior to this morning's presentation. I linked to their "about us" page just click "Scott Brothers," if, like me, you don't know who they are. My excuse is that my wife and I have abandoned television service in favor of internet delivered entertainment, which is a long way of saying we watch Hulu, and don't know what is happening on TV these days.

The Scotts talked about the importance of treating your team with the same level of respect and graciousness that you would any customer. They pointed out that your business is only as good as its team, and that you have control over how appreciated and motivated your team feels. I could sum it up for project and program managers with the phrase, "Give 'em some love!" Just be sure your mind is out of the gutter when you're giving the love, otherwise your employees may NOT feel appreciated and HR WILL NOT appreciate you!

After the Scott brothers very entertaining and practical presentation, I saw another fully engaging talk offered by non other than the famous Jack S. Duggal, a passionate speaker, who loves his work. Jack really wants to make a difference. Today, he explored how management has evolved over the past 100-150 years, and then talked about where he sees it going. He started with a quick overview of the major breakthroughs in efficiency that were seen about one hundred years ago. Industry saw automation and an effort to get people out of the way, and find efficiency through repetition and automation. Next we saw a revolution in effectiveness, where businesses got interested in collaboration and getting the person back as a decision maker, and effective team member. Finally, Jack discussed what he sees as the current revolution in managing people's experiences. This is where we measure the experience that people have and tune performance in real time, giving teams the opportunities to experience immediate correction and form good habits while they learn, rather than correct bad habits later.

This reminded me of an article I recently read from the Harvard Business Review, where the research team actually gave team members badges which had sensors in them. These sensors could tell how intensely someone was talking, which direction they were pointing. In short, they could sense body language, and the Harvard research team was able to predict with incredible accuracy how effective a team would be in their project execution simply by how well the team's chemistry came together, based on sensor data. WOW! So that means, we'll soon be able to collect data on how well teams get along and build teams that will be high performing, or what I think Jack was getting at, is we'll be able to give teams feedback on how they're acting, so that they can make adjustments to their interpersonal skills to enhance team performance, and optimize engagement, fulfillment, and success.

This can be a mixed bag, in that I don't know if I want my employer monitoring me with body sensors to see if I'm in the "right mood." However, it does have the capability to alerting me to my mood, so I can try and impact it. I don't know if it is too much big brother or a beautiful enhancement in personal monitoring. I guess we'll see!

Then, I was off for my favorite session of the day, "nap-time." I'm beat! after three days of a PMI LIM, I had to decompress and I slept like a baby. Then I met my co-experts for mingling with Congress attendees and invited them to sign up for "Ask an Expert" sessions with the ProjectManagement.com experts, who have been brought to Orlando to mingle and promote involvement with the online community.

After that, a group of us ProjectManagement.com experts went out for dinner, and this may have been my favorite part of the day! I got to know a group of truly amazing people, who have recreated themselves, accomplished incredible things and who are all down to earth, and fun to be around. I think my favorite thing about this is that they all treat me like a colleague. I think if we were to compare resumes, they'd all have a "deep bench," while mine would be "hmmm...ok!" But they are all here to help others find success and fulfillment. If you haven't checked out the list of experts from ProjectManagement.com, who are here at PMI Global, check it out now. These are some great people, whom I'm really glad to know! Click here to see whose been invited to participate in "Ask an Expert."

Once again, it is way too late for me to be up blogging, but I do want to keep covering what happens at PMI, so I'll have to sleep later.

You can count on my upcoming article encouraging you to volunteer for PMI, because I'm here to tell you that it is absolutely true, "Good things happen when you get involved with PMI!"

I have to also throw a shout out to Rebecca Braglio, who is both brilliant and incredibly talented! While she's not a volunteer for PMI, she is on staff for ProjectManagement.com, and we're lucky to have her. I linked to her profile on her name...check it out!

Feel free to share your experiences with volunteering, and I'll double what I pay you, if you leave some positive feedback on my post! :-)

By Mike Adams, PMP® 
President Elect - PMI Otowi Bridge 
@MichaelAdamsPMP

Well, this has been an amazing few days. The speakers have been fantastic, the workshops have been worth while and the people have been...

wait for it...

amazing! Yes I said it again. I love PMI volunteers, they're some of the coolest folks you could ever hope to meet.

This morning brought my LIM experience full circle. I've been walking around a bit upset about my experience with Southwest Airlines on the way out, and this morning's speaker was a guy named, Jason Young, author of a book named Culturetopia. He got his start as a customer service manager for Southwest Airlines, and he talked about the values that were so important to the organization and that have pushed it to the success it now enjoys.

My reaction to this was mixed. I had a good flight and the crew were fantastic, I was unhappy with how the gate personnel acted, and at the lack of care for giving my seat away when I ran to the restroom. My twitter interaction wasn't helpful either. I guess I'd have to say, "yeah fly Southwest Airlines, BUT #DontGoToTheRestRoom"

Later, I attended the PMI award Gala, where I met PMI region mentors from around the world, don't ask my how I ended up at that table...I just saw the outgoing Region 7 mentor, Tony Appleby and asked if I could join him. Tony's a good guy to sit with, not only because he is fun, but because he sits with people you want to know!

The award ceremony was really fun too, I love seeing people receive awards. I love how their faces light up and I appreciate hearing about their accomplishments. It was a great evening.

I'll throw a shout out to my new friend, Mike Frennete, whom I've known on here on ProjectManagement.com, but whom I met in person at the LIM in Orlando. Mike is a great guy, and a new graduate of PMI's Leadership Institute Masters Class, where he spent the last year developing his leadership skills and honing his servant leadership abilities. Canada is lucky to have him!

I also got to see my original PM mentor, and a previous manager of mine, Mr. "Skippy" John Jones graduate from the Masters Class. It was invigorating. Congratulations John, and best wishes as you progress in your career and life!

My blogs for the rest of this week, will be about the PMI Congress. The LIM is over and now I enter into a new adventure, as an "expert"  for ProjectManagement.com. If you are here at congress, please say hi if you see me, also, feel free to sign up for an "ask an expert session." They should be interesting, and I'm looking forward to them!

Thanks PMI for a great 2015 LIM, I'm looking forward to the PMI Global Congress, and I'm looking forward to getting some sleep too.

By Mike Adams, PMP® 
President Elect - PMI Otowi Bridge 
@MichaelAdamsPMP

Another fantastic speaker this morning...I mean wow!

Jeff Tobe talked to us about "Coloring Outside the Lines." Jeff was fantastic, and I thoroughly enjoyed his presentation. I had to stop and think, "As a chapter leader, have I elevated myself to the status of leadership mentor?" That question is distinct from "am I mentoring people?" The second question asked what I'm doing, it is an inquiry into what I'm passing on to others, or if I'm passing anything on. The first question has less to do with others and more to do with how I'm viewing myself and how much time I'm spending nursing my fragile ego...and it is fragile!

The answer, *blush* yes, I have 'elevated' myself to some heightened status. The problem is that in that position of being "Mr. Mentor," I am unable to listen as well as when I'm being a team player. I'm busy passing on what I know, and impressing others myself.

At lunch, I sat down with two new board members and asked them what we, as a board, are doing wrong. We didn't get to finish the conversation, but I can't wait to hear the rest of what they have to say. I'm so excited about this coming year in PMI. I have a feeling it is going to be great. I'm looking forward to serving as President of the Otowi Bridge Chapter, and I'm really excited about my own career and the trajectory it is on. Finally, I can't wait to see what happens in my family. My wife is returning to school, and my kids are pursuing their own passions.

In the afternoon, I attended several workshops. One had to do with using ProjectManagement.com to add value to my chapter members. I have to tell you, there are some really interesting things in the works. Thanks to Dave Garret, and Dani Ritter for a truly engaging workshop. For the rest of you, look for the chapter library to come online. In it, you will find chapter produced webinars that are only available to people who are members of chapters. So your chapter members will have exclusive access to a library of PM content produced and shared by other chapters from around the world. For $25 a year, this is a great deal!

I attended another presentation on how to effectively get chapter sponsors, and I can't wait to explore with my board, how we might get some sponsors for our events. I think we offer something valuable and could attract some sponsors, who want to take advantage of what we offer.

Finally, I talked up the Otowi Bridge International Project Management Day event in Santa Fe on November 4. I'm really excited about that. We have some world class speakers visiting Santa Fe, and some really interesting workshops to offer. If you have always wanted to visit Santa Fe, come this November 4.

I'll write a post about that soon, with details of the speakers, but for now, you should know that they are top notch, and they're coming to us from all across the country. I promise it will be worth your while.

So here is my plug for volunteering with PMI. Do it! Just go ahead and jump in. These are amazing people, the experience you get is amazing, and since starting my volunteer career with PMI, my business career has taken on a whole new trajectory, which is more enticing than anything I would have thought available to me even one year ago. I love PMI, and I love volunteering for PMI. You will love it too.

By Mike Adams, PMP® 
President Elect - PMI Otowi Bridge 
@MichaelAdamsPMP

So this whole thing got off wrong! Southwest Air gave my seat away while I was at the restroom. I didn't plan on having to run to the facility, but I had to, and by the time I returned to the gate, my seat was GONE! I've asked them to try and make it right, and we'll see if they do anything or not. #DontGoToTheRestRoom

Anyway, that had me arrive last night at 2:00 am (local Florida time). That's right, 2:00 am! Obviously, I had a rough time waking this morning. When finally I dragged myself from bed and out of my room, I was treated to a pretty good breakfast, and a fantastic speaker, Captain Sully, who successfully landed a passenger jet in the Hudson river less than three minutes after lift-off. There were no fatalities.

His talk was incredible and uplifting. The image I'll never forget is when he described one parent on the plane, who thought no one would survive. This parent wrote a quick note on a business card, letting his wife and kids know how much he loved them, and shoved the card deep into his pocket, so it would be found when his body was recovered. I held back a tear, as I imagined what it would be like to write that note to my wife and kids. That aside, his talk was engaging, uplifting, full of useful information about being a leader, and creating a high performing team.

Thanks Captain Sully for a great talk on providing essential leadership even under high stress circumstances!

I attended a workshop on engaging chapter volunteers, another on practicing servant leadership, and a talk detailing the history of PMI, and its growth from being a mere possibility to an organization with fewer than 100 members to its explosion into the organization it is today. Despite incredible growth and reach, PMI is essentially the same as it has always been. It is volunteer powered, infused with member passion, and aimed at empowering people to make things happen in the world.

I've also met some incredible people here. One couple, who arrived last night at 2:00 with me. They were quite impressive. We're going to explore creation of a program where chapter leaders can learn about their fiduciary responsibilities, and the technical aspects of how they can fulfill on those responsibilities.

They say that the North American LIM is like a family reunion, and I have to agree, it is incredible, and though this one isn't even half way over, I already can't wait for next year!