Curtis SmithProject Manager| Sarasota County GovernmentParrish, Fl, United States
Project managers spend a lot of their time herding cats. The PM’s success in cat-herding depends largely on their ability to maintain the organization and discipline of the herd, but it also depends on how unruly the cats are.
A cat that’s a natural home-body, preferring to stay in the house even when the front door is open, is easy to manage. Even if you can’t see it, you know it’s behind the sofa or under your bed. You know the cat is safe.
A cat that streaks outside every time you open the door is a different story. It’s looking for trouble, and will probably find it. That cat takes a lot more effort for the PM to track and manage. The cat is not safe until it’s corralled and brought back in the house. You can scold the cat all you want. It can’t help itself, and doesn’t understand what you’re saying anyway.
Hence the case for project governance. Governance is the discipline to always put the cat in the back bedroom and close the door, before you go outside. The cat doesn’t like it, but it’s safe. And you can go do what you need to do without worrying as much. Saving Changes...
Working with creative cats can require extra precautions, but it often has tremendous upside, too. The energy, the creativity, and the willingness to make bold and unpredictable choices all help keep your work feeling fresh and fun.
And maybe most rewarding of all, a creative cat will rejoice alongside you when it all comes together beautifully. Celebrating the results of your work together is the best!
Cats need affirmation, They need recognition, They need to be told they are doing a great job.
A project manager with human skills is able to effectively handle both the technical and people issues – saving time and money. They can get out of the ‘herding cats’ business and deliver the project – big or small – on time, on budget, and with excellence. Saving Changes...
Never felt an affiliation for cats, but appreciate the analogy. Saving Changes...
Mahabubur RahmanProject Manager Structures-Bridges| Department of Infrastructure, Government of Nothwest TerritoriesYellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada
To me, a project manager's role is very wide and tricky. He must have the ability to adapt in the environment he works. Although, the key objective is to delivering project "on time and on budget", it is not easy to achieve. There are lots of constraints, uncertainties which need to be tackled or addressed both by the PM and the Team in a timely manner-probably in this context "herding cats" could be a good expression.
On the other hand, I would say a project manager can not be a shooter, he is always a target-may be somebody may have different opinions. Saving Changes...
Having creative team members is not a bad thing thing as they keep up the energy level to do thing differently and discover innovative ways. Project manager may sometimes feel that these members are creating a distraction but it is important to lend an ear to their ideas as they can sometime be very fruitful. Saving Changes...
Ed Tsyitee JrConsultant | Consultant Tucson, Az, United States
Herding cats is one thing, but have you tried to baptize cats? Cats hate being baptized. Not only is the water wet, but this whole conversion thing really go against their free will. Rather, the best way to baptize them is let them get in the water themselves.
So, when companies change processes or the work flow just for the sake of the latest trend, people will resist.
But, when people are allowed to explore the change and how it will improve them and their work, it becomes easier to implement. Saving Changes...
