Hi everyone, this is a question that has been asked from many to many! Some newly PMPs have come to me asking how to react to these situations: I want to get an understanding as to how my colleagues here on projectmanagement.com would react.
My suggestion is: Use your knowledge gained from years of experience and on top use the PMI's knowledge you gained while preparing and using the tools/ techniques and prove with reasoning and discussions. Saving Changes...
Denise CantyAgile Coach, Life Coach, Author, Senior Project-Program Manager| Cenden CompanyWashington, Dc, United States
Jul 11, 2016 12:30 PM
Replying to Stéphane Parent
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We all have to ask the "silly" questions if we want to improve. A community such as projectmanagement.com is meant to be a safe and encouraging environment for anyone wishing to improve their project management skills. Don't be shy, ask your silly question. We won't bite.
This is not a silly question in my opinion, its just that the question is way too broad. There are a million reason why a person could perceive that they are "threatened". How would anyone really know which reason we can fix or even want to fix? Saving Changes...
Denise CantyAgile Coach, Life Coach, Author, Senior Project-Program Manager| Cenden CompanyWashington, Dc, United States
Jul 11, 2016 12:54 PM
Replying to Stéphane Parent
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There is no silly question, Assadullah. That's why I had the double-quotes around the word.
Often, people are afraid to ask questions. We need to have the courage to ask the questions. We also need the patience to answer them.
Agree that there is no such thing as a "silly question". I feel that it's "silly" not to ask rather than be concerned about whether or not the question will be perceived to be silly. Any question that needs an answer is valid. Just my two cents.
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1 reply by Stéphane Parent
Jul 13, 2016 10:28 AM
Stéphane Parent
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Well put, Denise.
Saving Changes...
Stéphane ParentSelf Employed / Semi-retired| Leader MakerPrince Edward Island, Canada
Jul 13, 2016 10:18 AM
Replying to Denise Canty
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Agree that there is no such thing as a "silly question". I feel that it's "silly" not to ask rather than be concerned about whether or not the question will be perceived to be silly. Any question that needs an answer is valid. Just my two cents.
Well put, Denise. Saving Changes...
Stephanie GrahamVP of Strategy| BankOnITOklahoma City, Ok, United States
I don't think that I personally feel threatened being compared against someone with a credential. Experience and Leadership will prove itself in a working environment.
I will say though that in response to interviewing or putting in resume's - somewhere where you haven't proven your skill set, you could feel like you don't hold a chance compared to someone with credentials.
I hope this is in line to what you are asking Saving Changes...
Manfred KressSenior Project Manager, PMP| Atos Information Technology GmbHTaunusstein, Germany
Why should someone feels threatend by a credential/title holder (it doesn't matter if a PMP or others like IPMA, Prince2)?
I have the feeling, the reason often is not the credential or title itself but how it is "introduced" by the holder. To me it is more unappealing then threatening when someone insists to be addressed exactly as introduced, e.g. as "Dr. X". I would use it anyway by courtesy.
Another reason maybe is jealousy, often found together with a lack of self-confidence. I know a lot of people (colleagues, customers, other contacts) with more credentials than me but why to be jealous? I assume they earned them. Or, thinking about the technical team members I have not a patch on when they go deep into technical discussions.
About the "silly questions": I agree with all of you, that there are no silly questions. I often encourage others to ask by saying "There are no silly questions - there could be only silly answers".
BTW, when a question is asked repeatedly by the same person, is it really madness or have you given only a wrong or incomplete answer so far?
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1 reply by Stéphane Parent
Jul 21, 2016 8:37 AM
Stéphane Parent
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"BTW, when a question is asked repeatedly by the same person, is it really madness or have you given only a wrong or incomplete answer so far?"
It could be a communication break-down, Manfred.
Saving Changes...
Stéphane ParentSelf Employed / Semi-retired| Leader MakerPrince Edward Island, Canada
Jul 21, 2016 8:35 AM
Replying to Manfred Kress
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Why should someone feels threatend by a credential/title holder (it doesn't matter if a PMP or others like IPMA, Prince2)?
I have the feeling, the reason often is not the credential or title itself but how it is "introduced" by the holder. To me it is more unappealing then threatening when someone insists to be addressed exactly as introduced, e.g. as "Dr. X". I would use it anyway by courtesy.
Another reason maybe is jealousy, often found together with a lack of self-confidence. I know a lot of people (colleagues, customers, other contacts) with more credentials than me but why to be jealous? I assume they earned them. Or, thinking about the technical team members I have not a patch on when they go deep into technical discussions.
About the "silly questions": I agree with all of you, that there are no silly questions. I often encourage others to ask by saying "There are no silly questions - there could be only silly answers".
BTW, when a question is asked repeatedly by the same person, is it really madness or have you given only a wrong or incomplete answer so far?
"BTW, when a question is asked repeatedly by the same person, is it really madness or have you given only a wrong or incomplete answer so far?"
It could be a communication break-down, Manfred.
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1 reply by Manfred Kress
Jul 22, 2016 5:35 AM
Manfred Kress
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Hello Stéphane,
for sure.
But I think, we should go back to the original topic of this discussion. Communication with all its facets is such a wide (and interesting) field that separate discussion should be used to not expand this one. I politely ask for your understanding.
Saving Changes...
Christian VelazquezBARA Process Lead| Cadena de Descuento BARAMonterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
Great comments, I think the best way to handle this is to promote the certification within your team in order to speak the same language. What I do myself is share best practices within my team to be better as a unit, while im open to assit them if they want to persue the PMP Certification. Saving Changes...
Manfred KressSenior Project Manager, PMP| Atos Information Technology GmbHTaunusstein, Germany
Jul 21, 2016 8:37 AM
Replying to Stéphane Parent
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"BTW, when a question is asked repeatedly by the same person, is it really madness or have you given only a wrong or incomplete answer so far?"
It could be a communication break-down, Manfred.
Hello Stéphane,
for sure.
But I think, we should go back to the original topic of this discussion. Communication with all its facets is such a wide (and interesting) field that separate discussion should be used to not expand this one. I politely ask for your understanding.
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1 reply by Stéphane Parent
Jul 22, 2016 8:25 AM
Stéphane Parent
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I agree that communication is a broad subject. May I suggest you post your question in a new thread so we can discuss it outside of this one? Unless, of course, your question was meant to be rhetorical.
Saving Changes...
Stéphane ParentSelf Employed / Semi-retired| Leader MakerPrince Edward Island, Canada
Jul 22, 2016 5:35 AM
Replying to Manfred Kress
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Hello Stéphane,
for sure.
But I think, we should go back to the original topic of this discussion. Communication with all its facets is such a wide (and interesting) field that separate discussion should be used to not expand this one. I politely ask for your understanding.
I agree that communication is a broad subject. May I suggest you post your question in a new thread so we can discuss it outside of this one? Unless, of course, your question was meant to be rhetorical. Saving Changes...
