Leam HallPM Apprentice| Smartronix/DoDPulaski, Va, United States
So I'm doing what I tell others to do to break into a new field; "go volunteer". In this case I'm working with a friend who has a small business, needs his website upgraded, and has a zillion other things on his plate. We're trading time for time, he's a scuba instructor and I'd like some more lessons.
However, he's so habituated to dealing with the details that instead of going through me to the designer he's still working directly. Sent him an e-mail, will follow up when he's not busy, hoping to build the personal and business relationship. For me this is a growth challenge; I have to clearly communicate the paths he can take, share why I think one is better than the other, and then sit back and let him decide by behavior.
Not sure there's a question in there anywhere. Just feeling the discomfort of a growth challenge. :)
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Linda HillProgram Manager| MicrosoftRenton, Wa, United States
Something to consider is communication styles. How you communicate and how he communicates may be different. If so, you may be saying one thing and he is hearing something else. This has happened to me before and once I realized the disconnect and corrected it, things improvement immensively. Good luck. Saving Changes...
Leam HallPM Apprentice| Smartronix/DoDPulaski, Va, United States
Oddly, he and I think a lot alike in several ways. We've come to an understanding, I think, in that he knows I support him and I'm bringing as much experience as I can to the problem.
Tomorrow should be a conversation with the other person on the team, who may feel their power base is eroded. I'm hoping to clearly communication that my role is to enhance, not degrade. However, I feel like a bull in a china shop sometimes. If there's a disaster I'm great, but if we're working things out and there's no crisis as a motivator I'm lost.
Oh well, one more growth point... Saving Changes...
It's great that you are helping your friend by volunteering to get his business off the ground but your friend must take the lead and ownership and turn his business dream into reality - he ultimately makes the decisions how he wants things to shape up - your role is to support him and your input to aid that decision making will be invaluable to him. Saving Changes...
Mark GripResource Associate - Project Management Office| Connecticut Department of LaborWethersfield, Ct, United States
I agree with Vasoula and Linda. Also, it maybe a trust issue. It seems that he still has a need to feel in total control of the project and not ready to relinquish partial control. You might have to reassure him that you are on the same page as he is. Prove to him that you are habituated to dealing with the details as well. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Wise men put their trust in ideas and not in circumstances”. Saving Changes...
