Navigate through this transitional period?

Core Values must be always present in our performance as professionals not only in habitual face-to-face work mode but also in the new reality of working in remote/virtual manner. Perhaps this new way of working has launched our creativity to get the same good results in the execution of projects, but always applying the principles of fairness, integrity, transparency, and honesty.

The "problem" is thinking that this way of working is transitional or it is about the pandemic. People like me are working in this manner from long time ago including it there is no way to connect except for a phone bridge. And no matter that, myself and other deliver projects working with highly virtual distributed around the world teams. The pandemic just accelerate something that was there. So, it is not a transition, it is a reality that was accelerate thanks the pandemic. About what you state as values nothing new because it is the same if you are working remote or not. Just thinks like trust becomes more critical. But again, nothing new. Time ago I worked as a leader to implement "Speed of Trust" (Steven Covey method) because things like that are key success factor to gain into agility by implementing agile approach.

Sergio, the transition, that I am talking about, is about the fact of globalizing the digitalization and make it the new norm. This is the context of raising the importance of human behavior as a concern.
Thank you again for confirming that values are the successful key for that.

Sergio, the transition, that I am talking about, is about the fact of globalizing the digitalization and make it the new norm. This is the context of raising the importance of human behavior as a concern.
Thank you again for confirming that values are the successful key for that.

In my experience we are always transitioning and that the values discussed are the only constant. During my professional life the industry transitioned from landlines, pen and paper, postal delivery, teletype, facsimile transmission (facs), email, concurrent design, integrated delivery, and now artificial intelligence. Before me there was transition from written communication (post and telegrams), horse and buggy, steam, air transportation, etc. Through all of this trust, collaboration, integrity, transparency, etc., has remain equally critical to success.

"Globalization of integration" is not a new transition, its a continuation of the process of evolution. Its not a matter of 'today we will transition' and tomorrow transitioning will be over, it will just be the same - but different. The only constant is our values.

Hello Gretta, I agree with you on this very important topic. That notwithstanding, let me say that, these values should not only be dependent on a particular situation or period. They must be embedded in the sleeves of the diligent project manager. That said, these values should not be difficult to implement on virtual a project. Constantly upholding to these ethical values should be a lifestyle of the project manager.

I worked on a project last year during the peak of the pandemic. The project involved the design of some buildings and infrastructure for a new mine. Being the project manager, I initially thought it was going to be the most difficult assignment, especially so when I never had the opportunity to meet most of the team members who I was going to work with remotely. The only platform we had to meet was virtually to review work and discuss reports. Part of the team was located in Australia whilst the others were here with me in Africa, but yet still not co-located. I was working from my small space on the dining table reaching out to the rest of the team (multicultural). One thing that was clear to every one of us from the outset was the need for having these ethical values as you’ve listed. With that in mind, we were able to work across a time zone of 8 hours difference, where the Africa team is able to start work at 8am in the morning which will be 4pm for the Australian team with just one hour transition period each day. This routine continued for almost one year and the project was completed without any single conflict. At a point in time, me being the project manager was even down with covid-19 but that had no negative impact on the project due to the values we all carried along positively.

So yes, as I said, living by these values are just as important in normal times as in uncertain periods. Its just a matter of keeping strictly to the culture of it that makes the difference.

These are my thoughts…