Amany NuseibehSpeaker, Global Leader | Optimal ConsultingSydney, Nsw, Australia
“Success has many parents, but failure is an orphan”. As project managers, change leaders and strategy executioners, progress resulting in success or failure is the combined effort of our sponsors, team members and stakeholders. • Would you accept the praise for a project where one of your team members did most of the work? • If yes, what about accepting a project management award for the project where one of your team members did most of the work? Saving Changes...
Casey DayAuthor | thevideogameproducer.comSan Diego, Ca, United States
Hello Amany,
1) It all depends on the context of the situation. Your goal should be to have full transparency in the team's and your own personal efforts on the project to all stakeholders. The aim should never be shaming the praise but lifting everyone up to the same praise level. Now that being said, I will always accept praise when possible. But, the praise has to be accurate to the work I did. I wouldn't accept praise if they said I single handedly completed the project myself, it's all context.
2) My response to the second question would be very similar to my first. The goal is for everyone to get an award and to lift the team up. Sometimes even if you, as the project manager, get an award for the team's efforts they should be happy for you. But, if this award were to overshadow the teams success or show an unfair balance in praise I would be against it.
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1 reply by Amany Nuseibeh
Dec 28, 2019 7:14 PM
Amany Nuseibeh
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@Casey, thank you for sharing your thoughts on this - displaying an honest and responsible approach, accepting praise when placed accurately and sharing it with the team fairly.
Saving Changes...
Lonnie PacelliAuthor & President| ProjectManagementAdvisor.comBellevue, Wa, United States
My rule of thumb is for successes use the term "WE" and point out notable achievements by other project team members. For failures use the term "I" and reflectively articulate what went wrong and what could have been done differently. Saving Changes...
Amany NuseibehSpeaker, Global Leader | Optimal ConsultingSydney, Nsw, Australia
Dec 15, 2019 2:29 AM
Replying to Conrad Drumheiser
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I am quite positive the majority of practitioners would only accept praise while noting the significant contribution of the team member(s).
This would likely be repeated in the event of an award nomination.
@Conrad. Thank you for your trust that the majority of practitioners will accept and acknowledge the team's contribution. Saving Changes...
Amany NuseibehSpeaker, Global Leader | Optimal ConsultingSydney, Nsw, Australia
Dec 15, 2019 4:47 AM
Replying to Luis Branco
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Dear Amany Interesting your question Thanks for sharing
What do you think is the role, functions and activities of a project manager?
How do you view the situation: Receive the laurels of project success and share them with the team?
@Luis - interesting approach to answering the question. Sharing is caring, and as we lead our teams, we are also part of that team. Saving Changes...
Amany NuseibehSpeaker, Global Leader | Optimal ConsultingSydney, Nsw, Australia
Dec 15, 2019 6:15 AM
Replying to Sergio Luis Conte
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The point is: what is the purpose of recognition? On the other side, like you see when some team achieve a championship the captain takes the price but the whole team is recognized and the captain assure that.
@Sergio, the project manager is definitely a representative of the team, motivating the team and setting the direction.
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1 reply by Sergio Luis Conte
Dec 18, 2019 6:13 AM
Sergio Luis Conte
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Fully agree with you. That´s what I tried to say. She/He could receive the prize (I prefer to say the award) but she/he always do that as a representative of the team and she/he always will assure that is clear for all. If not then they are not a project manager or I can say they do not deserve to be called project manager.
Saving Changes...
Lily MurariuResearch Council Officer Program Advisor| National Research Council CanadaCantley, Quebec, Canada
@Amany, thank you for bringing up this matter. This situation can be an ethical issue, as it looks like it contravene the fair treatment, the fairness value (see PMI Code of Ethics). By taking credit for someone else's work one shows disrespect to the colleague who did the work, unless the work is fully and publicly recognized. With such behavior one shows a lack of integrity.
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1 reply by Amany Nuseibeh
Dec 28, 2019 7:21 PM
Amany Nuseibeh
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@Lily, thank you for sharing your thoughts. I was wondering if you could specifically address the second part of the question.
If for your organisation a rule to award Project Managers and this project was successful I think it is nothing wrong to accept being appreciated. I believe there is a reason why this PM was selected for the project and not the other one.
The question is what to do so that honor and appreciation goes to top contributor. If this ceremony is still in front of you maybe you can talk with organizators how to approach this situation ( example - invite this person as well)
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1 reply by Amany Nuseibeh
Dec 28, 2019 7:23 PM
Amany Nuseibeh
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@Lukasz, thank you for sharing your thoughts - striking a balance between accepting an award and recognizing the efforts of a main contributor.
Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
Dec 17, 2019 7:12 PM
Replying to Amany Nuseibeh
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@Sergio, the project manager is definitely a representative of the team, motivating the team and setting the direction.
Fully agree with you. That´s what I tried to say. She/He could receive the prize (I prefer to say the award) but she/he always do that as a representative of the team and she/he always will assure that is clear for all. If not then they are not a project manager or I can say they do not deserve to be called project manager.
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1 reply by Amany Nuseibeh
Dec 28, 2019 7:26 PM
Amany Nuseibeh
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@Sergio, thank you for confirming my understanding that the PM is a representative of their team. Having said that, we also need to acknowledge that there are times where a PM chooses to nominate a representative from within the team (for various reasons).
Saving Changes...
Gretta KelziOperations Manager/Ethics Insights Team| Esri Lebanon/PMIJdeidet Al Maten, Al Maten, Lebanon
Fairness & Honesty are the answers for your question... Leaders, despite their leadership styles, should be aware of treating people with honesty, which means recognizing the efforts of each and every team members in a fair way, otherwise, the leader will face a credibility issue, when dealing with the same people in the future projects.
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1 reply by Amany Nuseibeh
Dec 28, 2019 7:28 PM
Amany Nuseibeh
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@Gretta, thank you for sharing your thoughts. I was wondering if you could specifically address the second part of the question.
For me, yes and yes. Good managers will always give credits where its due. Letting go the award in this scenario should not be an option simply because I would straightaway question the manager’s bad judgement which leads back to lacking people- and soft skills etc.
In my previous work years ago, I found out (twice-at least unsure real numbers ;-) from another manager (who originally hired me) that he told her they were his work - I just laughed if off! Saving Changes...
