Hello, I'm a student getting a degree in PM, I have a few questions I need help with. Can anyone please give some insights into the following:
How often do you communicate daily?
How do you deal with conflict
How important is listening
How often are you in a meeting? Are they effective?
Greatly appreciated. Saving Changes...
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To Phuong NamProject Manager| Thyssenkrupp Vietnam LtdHanoi, Hn, Viet Nam
Hello, Communication plays the most important role in PM job. Consume app 60-70% your time.
For the conflict, find the type and root cause, then using suitable ways for each such as, forcing, avoiding, smoothing/ Compromising and Problem solving. The best way is problem solving.
There are 04 subjects which often occur in project management ( listed by priority)
1. Schedule
2. Priority activities/ Tasks
3. Recourse
4. Technical issues ( Is the best to be solved by team members and their functional managers)
Regarding the meeting, the meeting frequency need to be defined in communication management plan including the meeting guideline
To be effective, make sure that the meeting agenda is distributed to involved people before the meeting. Saving Changes...
Adela TataruSenior Project Manager| Self EmployedVancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Hello Cesar,
Welcome to the platform :)
Here is my feedback on your questions:
How often do you communicate daily?
Communication is a constant task. It can be formal or non-formal. The frequence will depend on the project, the size of the team, if the team is virtual or on site etc etc
Take into account that exchaging on the project during coffee breaks or just a chat on Teams is a form of communication , so that means that overall it is the task you do most often.
How do you deal with conflict
It varies on the situation. I prefer to find a compromise as this makes everyone gain something usually, but sometimes when the situation asks for it, you need to force a solution. Remember to never jump to conclusions and hear out every side of the story, it will make conflict resolution more efficient.
How important is listening
More than most people would think. If you do not listen you will miss important information and well-informed decisions are the best decisions. Listening goes hand in hand with effective communication (well is actually part of effective communication).
How often are you in a meeting? Are they effective?
More often than I would like to. I try to be clear about the meeting agenda, the prerequisites and the discussion points to cover for all meetings I organise and make sure during the meeting that we do not diverge in side line discussions. Also I prepare as much as I can before the meeting so that we can be efficient during the meeting.
However not everyone has this in mind and sometimes I do get into a meeting where my presence is not needed. Saving Changes...
For meetings - always provide a clear agenda. Always follow up promptly with meeting notes & actions that map back to the agenda. I don't accept a meeting unless I know what the agenda is.
Be aware of dynamics - people may not want to disagree with a PM or another manager in a meeting. Strive towards creating a positive team environment where people feel it is ok to speak up. This won't happen overnight, but you'll certainly cover this in more detail in your PM course. Saving Changes...
Hi Cesar,
Welcome to Projectmanagement and I wish you all the best with your studies! Here are my thoughts:
1) How often do you communicate?
- I communicate constantly! Especially when you are working virtually, you need to ensure that you are communicating effectively, in the right way and to the right people. I agree with others that they communicate between 60-70% of their day.
2) How do you deal with conflict?
It'll depend on the situation, conflict and the individual. I consider all of this to ensure that i can manage the conflict successfully and not escalate it unnecessarily. I like to make sure that I look at the person's culture to see how they would like to manage conflict (e.g. dutch people can be very open, direct and do not appreciate 'beating around the bush').
3)How important is listening?
It's vital! It's one of the most important skills that you have as a Project Manager. You need to listen for what you're being told openly and also what you're *not* being told.
4)How often are you in a meeting? Are they effective?
It really depends on where i am in the project :) I try to not have more than 4hours of meetings in one day so that I can still use my day productively. I also ensure that i'm very strict with my meetings by doing the following: Keeping an agenda, be strict with content being discussed, sending out meeting minutes, following up on actions.
I would strongly recommend getting experience in projects and shadowing another project manager to see what they do, how they react and what can be done when issues/conflicts occur.
I hope that this answer helps? Saving Changes...
Thomas WalentaGlobal Project Economy ExpertHackenheim, Germany
Hi Cesar
here my replies
1. How often do you communicate daily?
about 60-70% during working hours and 1-2 hours after that, doing emails, chatting, zoom calls, the rest I can have some time to read, analyse and create content. If you count prep time for communicating, like creating presentations, searching for content, writing or reviewing documents (which all serve communications).
On top of that come conflict and crisis handling.
2. How do you deal with conflict
Acknowledge there is a conflict and set aside time to tackle it.
Have 1:1's with the parties: listen to them, ask questions, respect their feelings, offer perspectives to calm down emotions, gain their trust, get their acceptance to moderate the conflict, prepare the moderation meeting.
Get them together, telling each other what they feel, why they feel it and what they actually observed (and what triggered their emotions).
Get them to agree on small steps to respect each other, and at best find a joint solution to the underlying problem, if there is one.
3. How important is listening
Active listening is one of the most underestimated skills. Priests, psychologists and mentors know it. And everybody can learn it.
If you ask questions, you can steer a conversation.
If do not ask questions, you will learn nothing.
4. How often are you in a meeting? Are they effective?
2-3 zoom conferences of 60-90 minutes a day. If you listen they are effective in that you learn something. If I am the meeting owner, I need to spend 2-3 hours in preparation and cleanup.
If you have not done so, attend a workshop on effective meetings. It pays out.
1. How often do you communicate daily?
The frequency of daily communication in project management can vary depending on the project's complexity, team size, and stakeholders. Generally, project managers need to maintain regular communication with team members, stakeholders, and clients. This could range from brief check-ins to more in-depth discussions, as needed.
2. How do you deal with conflict?
Conflict management is crucial for project success. Project managers should encourage open and honest communication, actively listen to and acknowledge team members' concerns, facilitate productive discussions, and seek win-win solutions. They may also need to mediate conflicts, encourage compromise, and foster a positive team environment.
3. How important is listening?
Listening is a critical skill for a project manager. Actively listening to team members, stakeholders, and clients helps understand their perspectives, concerns, and suggestions. It promotes effective collaboration, engagement, and empathetic leadership. By listening attentively, project managers can make informed decisions and establish better relationships within their teams.
4. How often are you in a meeting? Are they effective?
The frequency of meetings can vary depending on project needs. Project managers typically conduct regular team meetings, progress updates, status meetings, and stakeholder meetings. The effectiveness of meetings relies on various factors such as clear objectives, well-prepared agendas, relevant participants, and defined action items. Ensuring efficient communication, active participation, and follow-up can enhance the overall effectiveness of meetings. Saving Changes...
