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The Project Manager DNA

Elisabeth BucciProjissima inc

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Agenda

IntroductionPM Brain or DNADiscussionConclusion

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Introduction

Pop SurveyMy month with Architects aka the value of shutting upDNA or Brain = born with it (DNA) vs learned (brain)DisclaimerMeyers-BriggsNot just for PMs

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Basic template

What it isDNA or BrainAKAFlip side, if applicable

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Slicer/Dicer

Divide project into smaller chewable slices called “tasks and deliverables”AKA Creating the WBS and project schedule

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List-maker

Make and keep a list of thingsScott Berkun’s blog post on the power of lists to make things happen:• “I’m convinced that despite all of the knowledge and skills I was expected to have and use, in total,

all I really did was make ordered lists. I collected things that had to be done—requirements, features, bugs, whatever—and put them in an order of importance to the project.”

Lists define priorities and focus • “be a priority machine” “Priorities mean power”

AKA Risk Log, Issues Log, Action List, Product Backlog, WBS, project schedule, etc

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Inchworm

Move forward one step at a time, relentlessly, towards DONEAKA Monitoring and Controlling

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ABC

Always Be Closing = What’s the Decision? What’s Next?NOT debating border width of 3, 4 or 5 pixels or 41 shades of bluePMs vs Architects, BAs, Engineers or other SMEsFlip side: too soon is as bad as not at all• Ripe fruit is easier to pick

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Keep Track of Things

Every piece of information has a homeIssue? Risk? Deliverable? Action? Daily Log? Status report? Decision Log? Meeting Minutes?Journalists / scrapbooker / journal-keeperFlip side: documenting is not deciding

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Pitcher and Catcher

Balls are action items which we throw and catch and throw againWho’s got the ball?We always know where our balls areAKA Delegate and Follow-up

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Order to Chaos

See a mess? Clean it up!Project rescue missionsAKA List-maker, Keep Track of Things, Slicer/Dicer

©Elisabeth Bucci, Projissima incimage via Jeffrey Beall

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Sheep-Dog

Keep the sheep (our teams, our Subject Matter Experts) from wandering off-course• creeping elegance and gold-plating• priorities (use our lists)• “just one more thing”

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Project Objective Change the colour from blue to bluer

image via billridio

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Surveyor

Know the limits of your projectAKA know your scope

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Jigsaw Puzzles and Dominoes

Jigsaw Puzzle: See the big picture and how everything fits togetherDominoes: See the impact of one change on the entire projectAKA Integration Knowledge Area

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Statue of Liberty/Bull-dozer

Statue of Liberty: Bring me your problemsBull-dozer: remove obstacles by making decisions and setting prioritiesFlip side: do yoga and make jewelry

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ABP

Always Be PlanningNOT a Firefighter, we always have a Plan BAKA Risk Management, Stakeholder Management, Communication Management, Issue Management

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Story-teller

Master the Story, Master the ProjectCommunicate the right information at the right time to the right people in the right way360° of stories

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Captain / Servant-Leader

Captain gives orders = Command-ControlServant-Leader = Tell me what you need and I’ll get it for youAKA Situational Leadership = Choose the right style, List-maker = Priorities

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Killer App

Own itBring itAKA the Accountability Gene

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The Accountability Gene

“We stand up in front of a group of people and we say ‘I will do this’. And we do it.Which means that we never, ever, under any circumstances, ever, utter the words ‘It’s not my fault.’Because it’s always our fault. That’s what being accountable means.”

--Elisabeth Bucci, If you can’t do this, you can’t be a Project Manager

©Elisabeth Bucci, Projissima inc

Slicer/Dicer

List-maker

InchwormABC

Keep Track of Things

Pitcher and Catcher

Order to Chaos

Sheep Dog

Surveyor

Jigsaw Puzzles & Dominoes

Statue of Liberty / Bull-dozer

ABP

Story-Teller

Captain/Servant-Leader

Accountability

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Questions / Discussion

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A Project Manager is a Master in the Pursuit of Done

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Let’s keep talking

blog: The Passionate Project ManagerTwitter: @ElisabethBucciLinkedIn: Elisabeth Bucci• If you send me an invitation, tell me why, DO NOT send the standard form

email: elisabeth@projissima.ca