Leadership
What is Leadership?
Simply stated, Leadership is "organizing/motivating a group of people (team) to achieve a common goal. For over 25 years, I have guided some of Canada's top corporations and government agencies through successful projects. Aa a program manager I have juggled multiple projects,from short term 'tight deadline' projects to multi-million dollar projects that extend over a period of several years. If there is one thing that my experience tells me is that no two project managers are alike and although most project managers are certified and practice the same PM techniques, I believe that the difference in the success of projects has just as much to do with the leadership and effective communication as it does with sound project management techniques.
Qualities of Leadership
1) As a project leader, my role is to help guide the team members by identifying their roles and responsibilities for the project and inspire the team members to successfully complete the project tasks for the good of the project.
2) I believe in upholding a high degree of personal integrity, honesty, credibility and trustworthiness. These qualities are key success factors in getting members of a project team to trust each other and the project manager, ultimately encouraging them to work well with each other so that when indecision or conflict arises, the PM will be regarded as having made the decision that best serves the interests of the project, leading to a harmonious environment.
3) Project Managers in my opinion must have a high degree of competence with the project technology and business management in order to gain the respect and confidence that the correct decisions for the project are being made. In addition to implementing good management techniques that I gained through practical experience, Business + Accounting training, PMP training, and the knowledge base of the Nation's top leaders at Queen's University, Executive Program. I am also certified in over 15 technical designations. The best kind of leader is one that is willing to listen and learn, after all, we are not born with leadership qualities; we acquire them through experience, through observation and listening, and through dedicated, conscientious, continuous self-evaluation and improvement.
4) A Project Manager must be flexible, imaginative, and alert enough to identify the need to modify an existing plan in favor of a better one, with the bests interests of the project in mind. Strong leadership will help the team to transition through any change.
- Purpose: Members proudly share a sense of why the team exists and are invested in accomplishing its mission and goals.
- Priorities: Members know what needs to be done next, by whom, and by when to achieve team goals.
- Roles: Members know their roles in getting tasks done and when to allow a more skillful member to do a certain task.
- Decisions: Authority and decision-making lines are clearly understood.
- Conflict: Conflict is dealt with openly and is considered important to decision-making and personal growth.
- Personal traits: Members feel their unique personalities are appreciated and well utilized.
- Norms: Group norms for working together are set and seen as standards for every one in the groups.
- Effectiveness: Members find team meetings efficient and productive and look forward to this time together.
- Success: Members know clearly when the team has met with success and share in this equally and proudly.
- Training: Opportunities for feedback and updating skills are provided and taken advantage of by team members.