This document discusses four key aspects of the people side of project management: 1. Establishing a clear project vision that gives purpose and focus to the work. 2. Allowing for creativity by embracing some risk and uncertainties. 3. Playing to team strengths such as positivity by focusing on engagement and optimism. 4. Thoughtful communication through techniques like project pre-mortems to prevent issues by collectively understanding risks early.

1. Alex Castillo & Matt Thomas
@alexmcastillo @mrthomas35

2. Being the Dave Matthews Band,
Not Dave Matthews

4. The People Side of
Project Management

7. The People Side of
Project Management

9. #1 - Establish a Project Vision

10. Why you are doing
what you are doing.

11. Characteristics of a Project Vision
Why Aspirational Shared
Concise Clear

12. An Example . . .

13. Apple
“A computer for the rest of us.”

14. Apple
“A computer for the rest of us.”

15. Does Your Project Vision Accomplish This?
§ Focus efforts in a common direction
§ Give purpose to the work
§ Is the metric of success

17. #2 - Allow for Creativity

19. “Talented people will be attracted by the
ability to see and influence the whole
process, to learn from other knowledgeable
people, and by the opportunity to create and
grow.”
-John Clarkeson, Jazz vs. Symphony, 1990

21. “The solution is for project managers to
devote less effort to predicting and directing
innovation, and more effort to managing the
inevitable uncertainties.”
-Markus Lorenz, “How Good Management Stifles Breakthrough Innovation”, 2013

22. Next Steps for Creativity
§ Look for and create opportunities
§ Be comfortable with some risk
§ Focus on managing uncertainties

24. #3 – Play to Your Strengths

26. How Do We Identify
Our Strengths?

27. STRENGTHSFINDER 2.0

28. Positivity
“A person who embodies this strength
has an enthusiasm that is contagious.
They are upbeat and can get others excited
about what they are going to do.”
-Strengthsfinders 2.0

29. Ideas for Action - Positivity
Yourself
§ Don’t pretend that difficulties don’t concern you.
§ Recognize challenges; communicate optimism.
Others
§ Doesn’t hold true 100%
§ Remind and encourage

31. Benefits
§ Engagement at work
§ Acceptance of yourself and others
§ Actionable advice
§ Provides insight for utilizing each member

33. #4 – Thoughtful Communication

35. “As group members interact, question, disagree
with, and support decisions, communication
increases. Increased communication promotes
overall group success.”
Limas, J.R. 2003. “Small Group Dynamics in a Nutshell.” Manage Online

36. What Went Wrong?
§ Timeline drivers weren’t communicated.
§ Individuals making decisions

37. How Could This Have Been
Prevented?

38. Project Pre-Mortem

39. Project Pre-Mortem
§ Prospective hindsight
§ Opposite of post-mortem
§ Happens at beginning
§ Imagine failure
§ Why did it fail?

40. Benefits
§ Everyone gets to be heard.
§ Everyone is of equal importance.
§ Increases likelihood of spotting risk
§ Promotes collective understanding

42. Conclusion

46. Thank You!