I recently met a senior project manager who was just recently employed in an organization to restructure and restrategize an existing PMO of the organization. He often uses the word “I” in reporting to show the managment of his relevance but I detest the word. Project managers can not operate in isolation and at such the use of “we” should be constantly used to also reflect the efforts of the team members. It is always about team work and team effort to achieve great results and the overallobjectives of the organization.
How best can I communicate or relate with this person as I don’t share in his sentimate on communications? Saving Changes...
Is this a generally held perception within your organization or is it just something you are feeling? If the dominant culture is individual-focused, his behavior may be considered quite normal.
Regardless, if you have a concern with a co-worker, it is usually best to have a 1:1 conversation with him rather than let it fester.
Kiron
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1 reply by Ajifowoke Olakunle
Feb 16, 2019 10:46 AM
Ajifowoke Olakunle
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This is not the dominant culture of the organization. This is something and the organization is not individual-focused. It’s just what he believes to be right and he uses such phrases a lot in his words. However, I’ll take to him about it.
Is this a generally held perception within your organization or is it just something you are feeling? If the dominant culture is individual-focused, his behavior may be considered quite normal.
Regardless, if you have a concern with a co-worker, it is usually best to have a 1:1 conversation with him rather than let it fester.
Kiron
This is not the dominant culture of the organization. This is something and the organization is not individual-focused. It’s just what he believes to be right and he uses such phrases a lot in his words. However, I’ll take to him about it. Saving Changes...
Karthik RamamurthyAuthor, Say YES to Project Success| Founder KeyResultzChennai, Tamilnadu, Tamilnadu, India
Hi Ajifowoke Olakunle: I can empathize with your frustration.
The common phrase, "There is no 'I' in TEAM" is indeed a truism.
Effective project leadership requires taking the entire team along, and the project manager using "I" all to frequently can indeed cause angst.
In some cases, this may just be the style of writing the PM is used to.
Does his behaviour also reflect this? Does he take credit of other?
If the answers to these questions are 'YES," then, it may be best to talk to him as Kiron rightly suggested.
Thanks for your question. I hope you will continue contributing for the benefit of our vibrant community here.
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1 reply by Ajifowoke Olakunle
Feb 16, 2019 3:29 PM
Ajifowoke Olakunle
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His attitude says it all. He takes glory for all the good deeds and shifts the blame when there are issues. He doesn’t carry the team along on some important matters as well. I later got to realize that as part of his training and believe
Saving Changes...
Eric SimmsSenior Program ManagerBaltimore, Maryland, United States
An interesting question. I typically use 'we' or 'the team' when reporting about achievements, and 'I' when reporting bad news. Is it possible your colleague uses 'I' to position himself to Management as the person with overall responsibility for the project, and not to hoard the credit for himself? Restructuring a PMO is a very important task, so someone who effectively says "I take personal responsibility for this endeavor" might be what Management wants to see.
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1 reply by Ajifowoke Olakunle
Feb 16, 2019 3:30 PM
Ajifowoke Olakunle
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Thanks for being a good manager. This is what the profession teaches and This is my philosophy but he’s a complete opposite of this
Indeed interesting. My philosophy is share the credit, and accept the blame personally. While I usually use the word "we" during project reporting to emphasize the team effort, I was coached the opposite after one job interview.
I was describing situations during the interview where teams I had led were successful in various situations. Afterwards, the hiring manager (who I know) advised to emphasize what I personally accomplished in the future rather than what the team accomplished with my leadership.
I think it is situational. If the intent is to promote yourself as an individual, use "I". If the intent is to promote an engaged team, use "we".
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1 reply by Ajifowoke Olakunle
Feb 16, 2019 3:32 PM
Ajifowoke Olakunle
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I totally agree but it is always about team work irrespective of the situation.
If some activities completed by the group / team then it is better to use we as the higher management knows you are not fixing staff by your hand but if some idea you have initiated then you can use I have introduced this tactic and with the supportive of the team we have achieved such and such results. Saving Changes...
Hi Ajifowoke Olakunle: I can empathize with your frustration.
The common phrase, "There is no 'I' in TEAM" is indeed a truism.
Effective project leadership requires taking the entire team along, and the project manager using "I" all to frequently can indeed cause angst.
In some cases, this may just be the style of writing the PM is used to.
Does his behaviour also reflect this? Does he take credit of other?
If the answers to these questions are 'YES," then, it may be best to talk to him as Kiron rightly suggested.
Thanks for your question. I hope you will continue contributing for the benefit of our vibrant community here.
His attitude says it all. He takes glory for all the good deeds and shifts the blame when there are issues. He doesn’t carry the team along on some important matters as well. I later got to realize that as part of his training and believe Saving Changes...
An interesting question. I typically use 'we' or 'the team' when reporting about achievements, and 'I' when reporting bad news. Is it possible your colleague uses 'I' to position himself to Management as the person with overall responsibility for the project, and not to hoard the credit for himself? Restructuring a PMO is a very important task, so someone who effectively says "I take personal responsibility for this endeavor" might be what Management wants to see.
Thanks for being a good manager. This is what the profession teaches and This is my philosophy but he’s a complete opposite of this Saving Changes...
Indeed interesting. My philosophy is share the credit, and accept the blame personally. While I usually use the word "we" during project reporting to emphasize the team effort, I was coached the opposite after one job interview.
I was describing situations during the interview where teams I had led were successful in various situations. Afterwards, the hiring manager (who I know) advised to emphasize what I personally accomplished in the future rather than what the team accomplished with my leadership.
I think it is situational. If the intent is to promote yourself as an individual, use "I". If the intent is to promote an engaged team, use "we".
I totally agree but it is always about team work irrespective of the situation. Saving Changes...
Guilherme CalobaProduction Engineer| PETROBRASRio De Janeiro, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
I tend to use we, or the team, or, if I am in a management position and there is accolade to be received, I say they. I think as a manager you should take the blame yourself, as you decided who would do each job, you developed the team, you trusted people to do stuff and you (hopefully) reviewed the work before presentation.
This attitude helps turn the wheel to the right side and get things going in the positive manner.
Ajifowoke, the power of a team is huge, and the manager should know how to reap benefits from it, keeping incentives high and growing together. Being selfish really does not work in the medium term. Saving Changes...
