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In order to empower Project Managers with some tools and techniques to handle people-related issues in the Project Office, we’ve decided to go beyond simply talking about theory. So here are a few suggestions on how to recognise things that might lead to damaging behaviours by both yourself and others, and what you can do about it.

Triggers

Take a look at these triggers for reasons why you might be exhibiting high stress and lower EQ. Do any of them apply to you?

• Lack of sleep (are you getting between 6 and 9 hours of sleep each night?)
• Lack of Exercise (been to the gym, or for a jog recently?)
• Illness
• Criticising others
• Failing to reach your own and the Project Goals
• A feeling of being overwhelmed (for example by the number of emails marked ‘unread’ in your Inbox)
• Unable to switch off your mobile phone or  BlackBerry

Communication Blockers

Are you doing any of these when communicating either face-to-face or by email with your colleagues / team-members?

• Arguing?
• Lecturing?
• Persuading with ‘logic’?
• Giving ‘expert’ advice?
• Ordering?
• Directing?
• Warning?
• Threatening?
• Doing most of the talking?
• Making moral statements or judgments?
• Criticising?
• Asking or making three or more questions / statements in a row?
• Telling someone “you  have a problem”?
• Prescribing solutions?

If you are, then acknowledge that you might be part of the problem.

Here’s what you can do to improve the situation:

• Listen actively
• Express empathy
• Give people more time to think
• Deal positively with resistance
• Develop a “can do” attitude
• Work with people

Project Management Emotional Intelligence, Project Management

There’s a famous quote that goes something like “The only constant in life – is constant change”.

Project management is no different, so The Project Management Institute (PMI) regularly update their annual PM Network trends report; the third of which was released in June 2009.

So here are the five trends that PMI have identified for now:

1. Hyper Efficiency. There is simply no time for any wasted effort, as customers expect even more results than before. Any tasks that are not critical to achieving the project’s business result (as per the Charter), need to be eliminated. One good side-effect is that Project Managers are forced into increasing the efficiency of their projects, which makes them stronger. This should also reduce waste, which is another worthy goal.

2. Total Transparency. Everyone is nervous. An economic downturn is no time to be opaque, secretive or micromanaging. Project Managers need to be honest with their team, and let each team member know how their efforts fit in to the bigger picture of the overall project product, service or result. Sharing project information will help to increase team loyalty and efficiency.

3. Power Alliances. Companies and Governments are seeking out alliances to get their projects done, due to the difficulty of getting funding. One way of doing this is with Public-Private-Partnerships (PPP); sometimes called a win-win-win solution (Government gets infrastructure at low – or no – cost, private companies get more work, and the public benefit from the savings and the greater innovation that often results from this kind of partnership).

Here at EPM Training Services LLP we firmly believe in the power of partnership. In fact our company is a ‘Limited Liability Partnership’ (LLP) as we structured the entire company around a partnership of key individuals. The right partner can reduce risks and improve delivery time. On the other hand, the wrong partner can lead to a lack of project success.

4. Big Job Cuts. There’s no denying this one. As there are now less projects than before, there is a correspondingly lesser need for Project Managers. If there’s no project, then how can a PM’s position be justified? Fortunately the public sector still has many opportunities for PM’s with the right skills, credentials and experience. This is therefore a good time to get a credential like Project Management Professional (PMP) from PMI.

5. Near-sourcing. Many companies are looking to outsource some of their traditional work, mainly to save costs. The term ‘nearsourcing’ refers to outsourcing to a nearby country rather than a very distant one, to get a greater level of comfort.

The concept we use here in Singapore is called “Best-Sourcing“. This is a more flexible model, that allows for procurement of goods and services of the right quality at the right price, by evaluating Efficiency, Effectiveness and Economy.

So thanks to PMI for this latest information, and we’ll keep monitoring the trends looking for economic recovery and more projects to manage.

Project Management Project Management