The Healthy Project Manager

February – the month of LOVE.  It’s everywhere you look in decorations, foods and even emotional commercials.  Personal love is one thing; professional love is another. 

Years ago I worked on the build, design and development of health coaching for a large insurance company.  Healthy living was my world: it was what I ate, drank, slept and preached for years……then, the company had a reorganization and I found myself in a different company with a different title in a new PM role – helping with IT projects.  I did the work to the best of my ability every day, but the passion wasn’t the same.  I couldn’t get excited about my job.  I was no longer in love with my work.  I felt sad inside and slowly even stopped living that healthy lifestyle.  My diet changed, I exercised less, I felt stress more.  Professional joy was shrinking with each day.

Then, I read a Forbes article dated March 13, 2015, written by David Surt and Todd Nordstrom called “Do what you love?  Or, love what you do?”  The right words hit me at the right time helping me realize that loving the impact my job had on the customer was something I could focus on.  Here was something I could appreciate and be passionate about again.  When I really focused on meeting the needs of my customers, the joy of my job began to grow.  The projects became more appealing and hurdles didn’t seem as challenging.  Interestingly, changing my focus also began to positively impact my health.  Today I can honestly say I love my work.

David Frost said “Don’t aim for success if you want it; just do what you love and believe in, and it will come naturally.”  Marc Anthony says “If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.”  What about you?  Do you love your job?  If not, is there a way to look at your tasks differently so you too have a job you love?

Top 5 surprising recommendations for increased confidence and competence in 2019

• CONFIDENCE:According to the dictionary, confidence is the feeling or belief that one can rely on or have belief in someone or something.  It’s a feeling of self-assurance. 

• COMPETENCE:The dictionary also indicates competence is the ability to something successfully or efficiently.  In other words, you have the skill set to be qualified to do your job.

In 2019, how can you have more confidence and competence?  I already assume you follow project management principles and ethics, beyond that here are my suggestions for the new year:

1. Take care of yourself.  Surprised this is number one on the list?  It should be a top priority.  Get enough rest, eat right, exercise, drink plenty of water, avoid caffeine and monitor and control your stress.  Easier said than done?  Maybe this year, it can be a firm goal.  This is your number 1 confidence and competence secret weapon and being on top of your game health-wise enables you to have the best platform for peak performance.  Start with small SMART goals.  Placing your personal health high on the list will help you react and respond better to everything and everyone.

2. Be known for standing up for what is right… and stand up for yourself when you need too.  Use your words both written and spoken for good and have the reputation for always speaking the truth.  Don’t be afraid to say “I don’t know” when appropriate knowing you will find the answer and follow up later.  Be the best representation of excellence stakeholders have ever seen.

3. Take time to increase your knowledge and add to your skillset.  Build, grow, develop and bloom this year!  Put it on your calendar.  Make it happen!  Gain the PDU’s, volunteer, take acceptable risks and learn all you can.  Build your career – you are worth it!

4. Be happy.  Life happens – cancer, divorce, job loss, stress.  These things are real and many challenges will be ahead this year.  Live with an attitude of gratitude, positivity and keep an open, inquisitive outlook.  This is huge and will improve your project management success!

5. Focus on your customers.  Put yourself “in their shoes”.  Make your stakeholders a top priority and your projects will flourish.  Keenly use your soft and hard skills, learn from mistakes, hone problem solving skills and improve your listening skills – these things are foundations for confidence and competence.