More Tao of PM

Another image in the Tao Te Ching is that of strenght versus flexibility. As oak tree is very strong. The same can't be said of grass. But here in Kansas, when we get a tornado, the grass may bend in the strong wind, but remain unharmed. The oak tree however can be broken by the winds.

So what does this say for the project manager? I once recruited a project manager from another department to work for me. This PM got things done through use of power, primarily via their position. In my department though, positional power didn't carry as much weight as other types of power. In my department, it was more about building good relationships, often referred to as personal power or power through trust. This type of power requires more flexibility and more time to develop.

So the PM was acting like an oak tree, but they should have been acting more like grass to be effective.

The Tao Te Ching and Project Management

It's been a while since I've posted. I have been out on vacation in London with the family and then doing a little traveling for work. It's given me time to think about ideas to write about here.

I recently got a new Palm T|X. It's really slick! It has WiFi, so I can surf the internet from my couch without dragging my laptop over. It also plays MP3s, audio books, and I can keep pictures on it. It uses the same memory chip as my camera, so I can use it as a picture viewer.

One application I found for it was a copy of the Tao Te Ching. I have read this book before, and even used it for a presentation on leadership. Now I have it on my fingertips anytime I need some inspiriation.

One image used in Tao Te Ching is that of water. Water is fluid and moves around obstacles, but at the same time wears things down; think of the formation of the Grand Canyon. I think a good project manager is one that recognizes when it's time to move around an obstacle and not try to overcome it with force.

The Eighth Step - Right Concentration

The last step in the Eightfold Path focuses on concentration, which leads to meditation. Meditation is part of most religions, but can meditation be applied to work?

I have a problem solving technique I use that falls in line with this step. When I have a problem that needs a creative solution, I start by reviewing the information I have on the problem. I'll then retreat to a quiet place and get comfortable. I take some time to quiet my mind by concentrating on my breath. When I've cleared all my thoughts, I then start reflecting on the problem. Do I have the right problem identified or is there more to it? Do I understand the root cause of the problem? What are the options?

I usually find the answer isn't far away, I just needed some quiet time to figure it out. At this point I head back to my desk and start working on the solution.

So that's the last of the Eightfold Path and its relation to project management as I see it. I don't know what I'll write about next, I'll have to reflect on it for a while.

Six Sigma and Project Management

I recently wrote an article for the Center for Business Practices talking about how Six Sigma can be applied to a project management environment. Read it here.

PMI EMEA Congress

I've just gotten back home after traveling to Madrid to attend the PMI EMEA Congress. The turnout this year was great! They had over 700 attendees. Madrid was a beautiful city, lots of old world charm. The tapas and cervecas were always good.

The topics were across the board from an introductory explanation of how to calculate slack on a network diagram to advance techniques for conducting reviews during software development projects (waterfall and agile). One of my favorite papers, by Dr Al Zeitoun my friend Janet Burns was titled "Cocktail Napkin Project Management" providing a simple approach for project management for people that aren't professional project managers.

I think it's time for me to go study a cocktail napkin or two. Cheers.

The Seventh Step - Right Mindfulness

The other day when I was running, I was thinking to much about some challenges at work and missing the fact that it was a beautiful spring day, the sky was brilliant blue, there were trees and flowers blooming. I was already on my way home before I noticed what a great day it was.

Right mindfulness is talking about having a clear mind. It means noticing the fine details even while in the middle of diversity. It's noticing the flowers in spite of the problems at work. It means not doing things that serve the ego.

As a project manager, this ties into leadership. Anyone that has led people has probably faced performance issues with them occasionally. I know I have in my past, and it did occupy my mind to where I didn't appreciate the flowers. While these issues must be dealt with, we can't take them personally. We have to address the issue objectively, work through a solution, and then move on. So clear your mind and take a minute to smell the flowers.

The Sixth Step - Right Effort

It was tough for me to see an easy tie between this step and project management, which is ironic because this step is about not taking the easy way out. Maybe that’s the tie. Shortcuts aren’t the answer to life’s questions, so should they be the answer in project management?

A key step early in a project is understanding the scope of the project. What is it that we are going to deliver? What are the deliverables? This is not the time to take a shortcut. In order for the project to be successful, we need to carefully work through this problem. That’s the only way we’ll find the true answer.