Jungle Rule of Project TeamsAll of us love Projects! Every
project is unique. Each one challenges us; pushes us and make us to
learn the hard way! The moment we mention Project, two aspects
cross our minds. Time and Budget.One of the Murphys laws of
Projects isIf a project is on time, it is twice expensive; if it is
on budget, it is already late! So every review focusses on Time and
Money!In a Project management scenario, every component is non
-living Even project management tool treats all Human beings as
Resources! We forget, many a times, so called Resources are a team
made of people with Six senses (some with seven too!!). We always
have a Resource plan and not a Team Plan!!Right mix of team members
with right set of Attitudes is as critical as, Deadlines and
Budgets, for a Project to succeed.We all know, Project execution
means:1. Doing2. Telling what we are DoingWhen I was trying to map
them with team attitude, I got into this 2x2 Jungle!Let us discover
our friends from Project Jungle!
LowHighHighLowTellingDoing
Tigers: They perform well on tasks and Roar well too. They are
focussed and they take pride in telling what they are doing, how
they are meeting all the objectives, how they kill the challenges
and all. In a meeting, they are very vocal and drive their points.
Horses:They work hard; Very focussed. If you speak ten sentences to
them, they respond with one. During every review, they demonstrate
a body language to gallop out of the meeting, to get to the project
task ASAP! You give a task to them, consider it is done! If
somebody rubs them on wrong side, they kick violently too. Frequent
pats and Rub on right sides keep them running for ever.Swans:They
mind their own business. They are neither too happy nor too sad.
They bring peace to the project. They get motivated only with
work... Rest are all transient phases of life for them. They paddle
hard beneath water, but always maintain elegance on
surface!Peacocks:They take lot of pride in Telling. They can sell
anything to anybody. They can convince all, on how their small
action in project stopped WW III! They dance. They walk with pride.
A good Peacock will build nice communication packages. As every
project needs constant communication to Stakeholders, we need
Peacocks to do the same in our team. Caution to be exercised to
limit their Dancing to avoid risk of overselling!Rats:They are
global delegators. They are Teflon coated and are very careful that
no task is sticking to them. They were busy running everywhere so
that no task can be assigned to them! They steal all resources and
frequently hide into their holes! They maintain poor visibility in
the team for survival.Best way to handle rats is to execute a
perfect Rodent Control!
So how the Appraisal Normal Curve looks like for this
Jungle?ExcellentPoor
It is in line with your expectations, right?Sometimes Telling
team overtakes Doing Team! Peacocks overtake Horses and run
alongwith Tigers!!Keeping our team motivated is important task.
When Tigers and Horses run for pride, Swans need continuous work
challenge; Peacocks need Reward Rains; Finally Cuckoos You know
what they deserve!Have a Great Time with Right Jungle Team!
Cheers,Prabhu
