Candice ShubbieConsultant| PROJECT40 ConsultingOntario, Ca, United States
As a PM, one of the most difficult aspects of the job has been managing a project team of individuals who do not report to me, or who rank much higher than me within the company. I understand that project management isn’t about “authority” but it may not always seem that way to the project team when the PM is constantly shining a light on their shortcomings.
Being responsible for the outcome of a project, but having no authority to set deadlines, adjust scope, allocate resources etc. is not a new point of contention for project managers but we all evolve and change in the way we do things. What strategies do you use to push back? How do you deal with team leaders who don’t manage their teams, but who also don’t want you to “manage them?”
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Hi Candice and All, some very good points raised to your post and while I did not read in detail all responses, I am very familiar with this challenge which seems to be increasing. Firstly, we have the "misfortune" having the title of two words with wide ranging meanings and little understanding namely "Project" which can equate in stakeholder minds that we are involved /responsible for everything and "Manager" which assumes we have a level of authority and assigned resources to make things happen. If you do not have authority, you are essentially a project coordinator. Secondly, If the Organization does not understand project management and empower and prioritize the Project and the Manager, staff in a matrix organization will have little incentive to complete or input into tasks in a manner that the project requires to fulfill the basics which will put undue pressure on the PM. A Charter is a must have but requires the Organization to fulfill their part first... agreed scope, prioritization / empowerment, governance/ change authority and resources. Thirdly, relying primarily on influence to deliver critical initiatives is more like sales door knocking... Saving Changes...
Michael BrowningDirector, Cybersecurity| Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, United States
Thank you, this was a very interesting read! Saving Changes...
