By Tim Devine and Jeff Warner
On May 17, the Southeastern and Northeast Wisconsin chapters of ASTD (American Society for Training and Development) held a workshop in Fond du Lac, WI featuring Lou Russell – 10 Steps to Successful Project Management. CARA sponsored the event and we were there as representatives.
As members of CARA’s sales and recruiting team, neither of us is considered a learning practitioner or project manager. So, what could a couple guys like us possibly take away from the day? Here are just a few lessons learned from Lou in Fond du Lac:
1. Bad news early is good news. How true. It is so important to learn about problems early on so issues can be addressed before it is too late. However, human nature sometimes prevents us from wanting to be the “bearer of bad news.” Lou Russell recommends creating an environment where it is OK for team members to deliver bad news.
At CARA, we refer to this as “failing forward.” We feel empowered to make decisions, communicate results early and learn from any mistakes so corrective action can be taken quickly, if needed.
2. Skill gaps create opportunity. It seemed that most of the participants had tenure at their companies, were wearing several hats, and were tapped to run a critical project without formal project management training or PMP certification. They were doing the best they could. This seminar provided an opportunity to fill in a number of skill gaps, helping participants grow their project management expertise and better equip themselves for success.
CARA provides a professional option for companies that are stretched thin and could use the help of a highly skilled project manager.
3. Keep a healthy perspective. Scope creep, missed deadlines and unresponsive sponsors can create a lot of stress for a project manager. Failure to anticipate these and other landmines, and mitigate potential risk factors, can derail a project plan and create panic. It is important to consistently communicate to all stakeholders the shared goals for the project, as well as the impact of any action or inaction creating a barrier to meeting the goals.
CARA’s business—and specifically recruiting—is filled with surprises and unexpected events. Each candidate is like a small project with his or her own lifecycle, from sourcing to placing the individual on assignment. Keeping yourself from getting dragged down into any single challenge enables you to focus on your overall effectiveness and contribution to the team.
It was a good day even for us non-project managers. We liked Lou Russell’s facilitation style. She engaged the audience and provided real-life solutions to the problems cited by participants in the workshop.
Project management truly is a skill that helps you control costs, meet goals and accomplish your work more efficiently and effectively, whether you’re managing a training project, an account plan or a recruitment strategy.
