#1NLab15: Being the Dave Matthews Band, Not Dave Matthews

Alex Castillo & Matt Thomas@alexmcastillo @mrthomas35

Being the Dave Matthews Band, Not Dave Matthews

The People Side of Project Management

The People Side of Project Management

#1 - Establish a Project Vision

Why you are doing

what you are doing.

Characteristics of a Project Vision

Why Aspirational Shared

Concise Clear

An Example . . .

Apple

“A computer for the rest of us.”

Apple

“A computer for the rest of us.”

Does Your Project Vision Accomplish This?

§ Focus efforts in a common direction

§ Give purpose to the work

§ Is the metric of success

#2 - Allow for Creativity

“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

“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

Next Steps for Creativity

§ Look for and create opportunities

§ Be comfortable with some risk

§ Focus on managing uncertainties

#3 – Play to Your Strengths

How Do We Identify Our Strengths?

STRENGTHSFINDER 2.0

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

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

Benefits

§ Engagement at work

§ Acceptance of yourself and others

§ Actionable advice

§ Provides insight for utilizing each member

#4 – Thoughtful Communication

“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

What Went Wrong?

§ Timeline drivers weren’t communicated.

§ Individuals making decisions

How Could This Have BeenPrevented?

Project Pre-Mortem

Project Pre-Mortem

§ Prospective hindsight

§ Opposite of post-mortem

§ Happens at beginning

§ Imagine failure

§ Why did it fail?

Benefits

§ Everyone gets to be heard.

§ Everyone is of equal importance.

§ Increases likelihood of spotting risk

§ Promotes collective understanding

Conclusion

Thank You!