Jesus MartheynProject Manager SR Lvl 2| GlobantMedellin, Antioquia, Colombia
Probably most of you have had to live this kind of uncomfortable situations when the person with the authority in the project makes you feel is not the person with the knowledge and skills to lead the project team. In my case, as a master in project management, probably have the mistake to advise immediately about bad practices and act in the way I consider is the best to keep the project management in order, but sometimes the experience and some other skills could help you to manage better this inconvenient. You, as project manager share with me your best practices, when the PM of the project you are working on is not competent to act. Saving Changes...
If you have demonstrable proof of incompetence, you could start by having a 1:1 meeting with the PM to share your concerns and see if he agrees. Depending on where that conversation goes, you can then decide whether to escalate or not...
Kiron
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1 reply by Jesus Martheyn
Jul 19, 2018 5:45 PM
Jesus Martheyn
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Kiron -
At this moment it is a reality. The first month I guess maybe it was just because of the beginning of the project, but now we are seven months working and project status is the worst. As you said, last week we had a meeting to expose the shortcomings of the project management. This week I scheduled another meeting with a new management plan and some points to meet with the project team. My feeling is that the PM must find out by himself the way to get back to the plan and his role should be more active.
Jesus
Saving Changes...
Jesus MartheynProject Manager SR Lvl 2| GlobantMedellin, Antioquia, Colombia
Jul 19, 2018 5:29 PM
Replying to Kiron Bondale
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Jesus -
Is this your perception or is it reality?
If you have demonstrable proof of incompetence, you could start by having a 1:1 meeting with the PM to share your concerns and see if he agrees. Depending on where that conversation goes, you can then decide whether to escalate or not...
Kiron
Kiron -
At this moment it is a reality. The first month I guess maybe it was just because of the beginning of the project, but now we are seven months working and project status is the worst. As you said, last week we had a meeting to expose the shortcomings of the project management. This week I scheduled another meeting with a new management plan and some points to meet with the project team. My feeling is that the PM must find out by himself the way to get back to the plan and his role should be more active.
Jesus
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1 reply by Adrian Carlogea
Jul 19, 2018 7:03 PM
Adrian Carlogea
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I don't want to offend in anyway way but I don't think you are in the position to question the PM's work. If you are an entry level project management employee you don't have the experience of the PM and it would be ridiculous to question the way he/she works. If you don't like it better try to find another job.
If you are a team members doing the actual work then project management should not be your responsibility so you should not care too much about what the PM is doing. Of course you must be careful so the PM does not do things that would directly affect your work such as promising things to the customer/sponsor without seeking the approval of the technical experts working on the team.
Finally many PMs are not responsible for managing the project team in the sense of managing the technical details of the work being performed so they can have a less active role when it comes to the team. Many PMs have to manage several projects at once so they have neither the time nor the skills to actually manage the project teams. This does not mean that they are incompetent when it comes to project management.
Not everyone "above" us is as good as we are. And certainly many below us are better than us. That's life. The PM may have other knowledge and skills equally important the project: domain knowledge, influence, expert judgement etc. Work with the PM as Kiron suggests, in a way that doesn't cause friction. Saving Changes...
At this moment it is a reality. The first month I guess maybe it was just because of the beginning of the project, but now we are seven months working and project status is the worst. As you said, last week we had a meeting to expose the shortcomings of the project management. This week I scheduled another meeting with a new management plan and some points to meet with the project team. My feeling is that the PM must find out by himself the way to get back to the plan and his role should be more active.
Jesus
I don't want to offend in anyway way but I don't think you are in the position to question the PM's work. If you are an entry level project management employee you don't have the experience of the PM and it would be ridiculous to question the way he/she works. If you don't like it better try to find another job.
If you are a team members doing the actual work then project management should not be your responsibility so you should not care too much about what the PM is doing. Of course you must be careful so the PM does not do things that would directly affect your work such as promising things to the customer/sponsor without seeking the approval of the technical experts working on the team.
Finally many PMs are not responsible for managing the project team in the sense of managing the technical details of the work being performed so they can have a less active role when it comes to the team. Many PMs have to manage several projects at once so they have neither the time nor the skills to actually manage the project teams. This does not mean that they are incompetent when it comes to project management. Saving Changes...
RAJESH K LProject Manager, PMP| Bharat Electronics, Bengaluru, IndiaBengaluru, Karnataka, India
Agree with Kiron & Adrian,
No one in this world is perfect. Everyone is a learner and they learn by experience. As a team member one should support the leader rather than criticising the leader for his deficiencies. Saving Changes...
Even we have got a lot of experience, we are learning, day by day. I feel like improving Project management. Saving Changes...
Jesus MartheynProject Manager SR Lvl 2| GlobantMedellin, Antioquia, Colombia
Hi Adrian, maybe there are some details missing because of my limitations on the language, but also I guess you understand the purpose of this discussion in a wrong way. I'm PM in two projects more, but after 6 months I was joined to this team to support in the management. The project management is always the responsibility of the PM, I'm not talking about technical skills, I'm talking about project management skill that all of us might have.
Furthermore, my position is not to have friction with the PM, my position is to share the lessons learned from my projects and help him to improve. As you know, not all like to receive feedback and depends on the way that you do it, the success of the feedback done.
The thing is that this is my first time helping another PM to do better his job, and I feel I have to be careful and ask people experience in this kind of situations. I agree Rajesh comment, no one is perfect.
I second Kiron & Sante's suggestions. I assume that you are playing the role of a Senior PM and grooming the other PM since he is new to the Organisation or any other reason. Some people take more time than usually expected to improve on their performance, which may be due to many reasons & need not be incompetence always. One on one discussions would help a lot else need to take the escalation mode of fixing the issue. Saving Changes...
Tamer Zeyad SadiqAssistant Cost Manager| Turner & TownsendRiyadh, Ar Riyad, Saudi Arabia
As Kiron said. The best way to solve any issue is face -face meeting after gather all data and requirements!!! Saving Changes...
Dinah YoungProject Manager / Software Asset Manager| Prince William CountySpringfield, Va, United States
I have worked for several managers that I felt were lacking in some skill set. As a team player, I did my best to support them where they needed it. There are subtle ways to do this so that they are not always aware of what you are doing (so that they do not get defensive). You can make suggestions, give opinions, etc. In the end it is all about getting the project done. I will do what needs to be done to keep it moving forward.
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3 replies by Jesus Martheyn, Kevin Drake, and Mayte Mata Sivera
Jul 20, 2018 9:41 AM
Kevin Drake
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I agree with Dinah, Kiron and Adrian
Jul 20, 2018 9:51 AM
Jesus Martheyn
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Dinah I like your answer. Could you share with me, how can I do so without makes him get defensive?
