Eric SimmsSenior Program ManagerBaltimore, Maryland, United States
One piece of advice that immediately comes to mind is that leaders can't appear to be indecisive. I've seen some people make snap decisions without properly analyzing data so they'd appear decisive, and others refuse to change their minds after making a decision so they wouldn't appear weak, even though it was readily apparent their initial decision was wrong. I really have to wonder at some of the things being taught in business schools and leadership courses. Saving Changes...
Sometime back I got advice "You need to ensure that every stake-holder is happy". This is wish-list. It is hard and impractical hard to appease any stake-holder all the time. What PM should know is when and why some stake holder is more important, and other is not. Saving Changes...
Stéphane ParentSelf Employed / Semi-retired| Leader MakerPrince Edward Island, Canada
I think, Eric, that a leader should be willing and able to make a decision. Obviously, you have to balance the information needed against the time it takes to gather it.
A decision is always better than no decision. You should always be ready to revise your decision as more information is collected. Saving Changes...
Stéphane ParentSelf Employed / Semi-retired| Leader MakerPrince Edward Island, Canada
I always disliked the notion that you have to be a leader, not a manager. We can put definitions on each label. At the end of the day, we need the courage to do the right things but also the persistence to improve them. Saving Changes...
Any leadership advice that doesn't provide the qualifier "it depends" is highly suspect. Yes, we all should aspire to be Theory Y managers, but Theory X also has its place in certain scenarios.
I also despise the "Don't bring me problems, bring me solutions", "The customer is always right" and "Don't confuse Sales & Delivery (or sometimes Development & Operations)" lines...
Kiron Saving Changes...
Marc TebbensVP, Operations| National Government Services - a division of Elevance HealthOviedo, Fl, United States
In my first years as a manager someone gave me advice to finish the work your people didn't finish - it will show you're a team player and part of the team. Wow was that ridiculous! Thankfully I knew it was not good advice. Instead, developing each team members' skills and competencies to improve their own individual performance proved to be a successful path. Saving Changes...
Lisa RobinsonProgram Director| University of IndianapolisIn, United States
Show a sense of urgency. Apparently, if you don't look stressed out, you're not taking the situation seriously enough.
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1 reply by Eric Simms
Oct 20, 2017 1:28 PM
Eric Simms
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Agreed. When Managers gauge a person's efforts by their outward appearance instead of their work output, I suspect those Managers have no idea what's actually going on in their departments.
Saving Changes...
Eric SimmsSenior Program ManagerBaltimore, Maryland, United States
Oct 20, 2017 12:17 PM
Replying to Aaron Porter
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Show a sense of urgency. Apparently, if you don't look stressed out, you're not taking the situation seriously enough.
Agreed. When Managers gauge a person's efforts by their outward appearance instead of their work output, I suspect those Managers have no idea what's actually going on in their departments.
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1 reply by Stéphane Parent
Oct 20, 2017 1:46 PM
Stéphane Parent
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I'm reminded of a question my manager once asked me: "do you take time to put up your feet and think about your project?"
He was saying that we can't just be doing project things. Sometimes we need to to step and think about where we are and the road ahead.
Saving Changes...
Stéphane ParentSelf Employed / Semi-retired| Leader MakerPrince Edward Island, Canada
Oct 20, 2017 1:28 PM
Replying to Eric Simms
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Agreed. When Managers gauge a person's efforts by their outward appearance instead of their work output, I suspect those Managers have no idea what's actually going on in their departments.
I'm reminded of a question my manager once asked me: "do you take time to put up your feet and think about your project?"
He was saying that we can't just be doing project things. Sometimes we need to to step and think about where we are and the road ahead.
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1 reply by Eric Simms
Oct 20, 2017 7:24 PM
Eric Simms
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Agreed. If the project is proceeding well and the PM can give detailed answers concerning it, no one should care whether or not a PM outwardly appears busy. I think part of the problem is many Executives don't know how to assess for themselves how well a project is proceeding, so they have to solely rely on the PM's word - hence the appearance of urgency reassures them that a PM must be working hard on the project. In the past I have tried to teach Executives how to assess a project's progress for themselves, and only one has made any effort to learn.
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