HOW TO SURVIVE AS A PROJECT MANAGER
Your Arsenal for Survival
LESSONS LEARNED
Don't Take Yourself So Seriously
One of my favorite quotes comes from Edward Dahlberg who states - "It takes a long time to understand nothing."
Fact is, you know nothing. No matter how hard we try to control it, life changes and happens so quickly. You can't control everything. Accept it.
What you can control is the pure essence of who you are and what you stand for. If you do this well, you will positively impact those around you. You make the world a better place by recognizing this important fact and by acting upon it. So stop with the attitude and the over compensation for lack of confidence. We see right through it. Laugh once in a while, find humor and levity in your daily life and those with whom you spend your precious time. Don't take yourself so seriously!
"Remember that sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck."
~Dalai Lama XIV
Don't Take Yourself So Seriously
One of my favorite quotes comes from Edward Dahlberg who states - "It takes a long time to understand nothing."
Fact is, you know nothing. No matter how hard we try to control it, life changes and happens so quickly. You can't control everything. Accept it.
What you can control is the pure essence of who you are and what you stand for. If you do this well, you will positively impact those around you. You make the world a better place by recognizing this important fact and by acting upon it. So stop with the attitude and the over compensation for lack of confidence. We see right through it. Laugh once in a while, find humor and levity in your daily life and those with whom you spend your precious time. Don't take yourself so seriously!
"Remember that sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck."
~Dalai Lama XIV
Survival Tips
Physical Health
Mental Health
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Take care of your body, you get just one of them in this go around. Exercise on a regular basis. Participate in cardiovascular exercise (running, walking, bike riding, swimming) most days of the week. Strength building (weight lifting, yoga) a couple days each week. Eat foods that promote a healthy body. Find a local yoga studio. If you are on the road, check out online yoga classes. Breath. Breathing does not get enough attention. We sit at a desk or conference room table all day and our breathing becomes restricted. Take good deep breaths several times each day. See the impact of sitting to much, here.
Take care of your mind by allowing it a break once in a while. Maintain a good sleep pattern. Meditate often and observe and quiet your mind. For some, reducing the internal chatter is difficult. This is especially true for Project Managers who deal with conflict, problems and issues all day, everyday. It becomes a part of your make up to worry. You really need to recognize an over-active mind and consciously do whatever you can to settle it down. See the Ego section below.
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Dress for Success
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First impressions are everlasting - when you are in front of a customer, you need to look solid. When you wear nice clothes - you will feel more confident. Make sure you look sharp and remember all details - hair style and cut, just the right cosmetic application, clean and groomed finger nails and shiny shoes. When in doubt, dress conservatively. Better to dress down through time.
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Lose the Ego
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Wars and the annihilation of people are/were the makings of someone's ego. There is a distinct difference between being confident in your abilities and letting your ego run your life. Know the difference. As Project Managers, it is our job to plan, anticipate and worry. The ego is very similar in this regard as it too, likes to think about the future, the past and keep us from the present moment. It likes to create fear and worry and the more you buy into these manifestations of the ego, the more the ego wins. Learn more about living in the present moment. If you can actually witness the work of your Ego, you have just taken a step in the right direction.
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Mind Your Manners
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Mind your manners. Learn proper etiquette to make sure you are not embarrassing yourself in important situations and events. Do you know proper table etiquette? International business etiquette?
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No Cowboys and Cowgirls
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Project Managers have a tendency to take on EVERYTHING including issues that should have been escalated to his or her manager or Project Management Office. Follow the process. As the Project Manager, you represent your company/department and it is your job to maintain a good working relationship with your customer, internal or external. You should have an escalation point. This allows the project team to stay focused on project work while the escalation point of contact tackles issues that cannot be resolved by the immediate project team. When a Project Manager doesn't follow the escalation process, they are often referred to as a Cowboy or Cowgirl. I can tell you first hand, most times this approach fails or is extremely painful.
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