Ok, advises are not to be wasted.
Here's one for the to -be young PMs. We are the "spring chickens" but aren't we glad to get some advise from Project Managers?
Ok, advises are not to be wasted.
Here's one for the to -be young PMs. We are the "spring chickens" but aren't we glad to get some advise from Project Managers?
I particularly liked this one which says: Make a big public commitment. Be fully committed
I got this one from my friend Leo at Zen Habits, and I love it! He says “this will do the trick every time. Create a blog and announce to the world that you are going to achieve a certain goal by a certain date. Commit yourself to the hilt”. Thanks Leo, you have certainly motivated me Make a big public commitment. Be fully committed.
I liked the article and given the fact that your motivation level needs to be at your all time peak if you are planning to be PM. For people like me, I end up spending more time than necessary at work, to know about the processes, other projects, the roles people play, observe the mistakes and think what I could to do to save the day, if I was the PM. There are times, when I really need an overdose of inspiration to keep me going, to make that extra effort and keep the focus intact.
The toughest think is perhaps when you have co-workers who aren’t very positive or using your communication skills to get the work done without yelling. To restrain from using your power and using it wisely and not unnecessarily is hard. More you do, better you learn.
(Picture: Google Images)
30 Minute Meals episodes start with Rachel speaking about what she will be cooking on the show (her deliverables). She talks about (her methodology) how she will start with the pasta and cook her way to the soup.
Once her plans (PM plan) are done and her time set (read 30 minutes), she breaks down her work into manageable tasks (Work break structure)- she carries her sauces and spices (tools), boils, chops and cooks (execution) her dish while keeping her spectators informed (team/stakeholders).
While cooking she verifies her recipe with the requirements she has, e.g. her in-laws like the favor of garlic but doesn’t like to bite into pieces of them. So, after flavoring the oil, she removes them carefully (she knows her clients). 30 minutes later (within time and scope) - she has served in plates and a quick tasting (testing) later, she signs off (end of project).
Now, that was PM for you. Of course in real life projects are a little more complicated than whipping up a tasty dinner! But I hope you got the idea.
So, how do you know that you have the qualities to become a Project Manager? You don’t, I didn’t know I can do it well. Perhaps I’m not even the right person to be discussing it. But what the heck- I’ll share what I have learnt.
Chances are you will flair, if you are-
Most importantly you have to love your job and be confident of what you are doing, learn from your seniors and take the extra time to read up.
(Picture : Courtesy Food Network)
OMG! Elizabeth Harrin wrote about Stepping into PM in her famous blog A Girl's Guide to Managing Projects .
I read her blog almost everyday at lunch and guess what when I opened the blog today, I couldn't belive my eyes. It's like meeting your favorite movie star. This is amazing.
So, thank you Elizabeth, really.
I am an aspiring project manager.
When I was a kid, I wanted to become a teacher, novelist, professor, copywriter but I never dreamt of becoming a project manager. I had never heard about Project Management. How, I wish I did!
One thing lead to another and I stumbled upon this arena just by chance. I had completed my post graduation in Mass Communication and joined a small IT company in Chicago as a management trainee. While on one hand I got involved with marketing for the company, on the other providing a helping hand to the project side got me curious.
I never looked back again, few presentation and documentation later I switched to the IT department. Currently I work as a business analyst and part of the project management team and have had the opportunity to have some great mentors who trusted and inspired me.
So, why the blog? I have been reading blogs about project management for a while now; it was fascinating to see people sharing their knowledge. I have learnt so much from these blogs, that I am in debt to all these authors (If you see the blog list to your right, you will know what I mean).
However, most of the blogs don't advise you on how you can become a PM. Most of the bloggers are hugely successful Project Managers in their respective fields and sometimes talk about issues that might sound alien to most of us.
This blog, is my commitment to become a PM- to talk about my mistakes, my learning process and blog my journey with dollops of honest writings, scouting for some advises for me and everyone else who would like to be a PM.