Big Project, Not a Big Production

[Cartoon courtesy of Grantland Cartoons]

It’s not a nice thing to say, but I don’t like projects. Not a nice thing to say because there are people who make it their whole career—many of whom read our magazine—to manage projects. As a creative person, there’s something mind-numbing about planning a project, especially all the inevitable bureaucracy involved. You don’t mean to tell me there are people who savor that stuff, do you?

What I like is envisioning the project, focusing on finishing the tasks that need to be done, and helping others who are mired in project muck. These preferences of mine lead me to wonder whether a project leader is necessary.  I hate to ask (I don’t think it’s very smart of me to risk offending readers), but could someone plead the case of project managers to me—why they’re necessary and what their proper function is?

Here’s another thing that will make people mad: I don’t think the leaders of projects do as much work as the worker bees of the project. I also, despite my creative/visionary personality traits, don’t believe in the “envisioner” project role. I think the best people to do the envisioning are the people who will be responsible for carrying out the work. First, they’re the ones whose time and sweat are at stake. And second, they’re the ones who know what will and won’t work since they’re the ones with the professional or technical know-how.

I had lunch with a friend a couple years ago who was in a really good (uncharacteristically good) mood, and the reason was she had just earned her professional project manager certification. Of course I’m a nice friend, so I pretended to be impressed, and I was to some degree. She manages a team of IT workers at a large financial institution here in NYC, and has to push around people who don’t speak the same language as her (or at least they don’t speak it too well).  Her company has software releases for their branch offices or banks (not sure which it is they have), and there were times she was so busy with her project managing she had to stay at the office nearly all night with the IT workers she project manages. I can’t blame her for wanting a professional designation for that.  I’ve never (knock wood) pulled an all-nighter at the office, so I don’t need a professional designation yet (what would they call me, anyway?  Professional Long-Suffering Journalist?).

Instead of saddling one person with project management, why not make the management of the project a group endeavor, with no one person charged with organizing and selling the work?  I’ve heard it said that every work group needs a leader, but I’m not convinced that’s so. What if the high-flying (over-paid) executive charging a work group with a seemingly unmanageable project, asks each member of a work group to do a specific task? When “projects” are broken into small pieces, they cease to be projects, right?  And they’re not intimidating or unmanageable. I guess you’d argue the executive assigning the work is the project manager in this scenario, but I don’t think so. I think to have a project manager you need to have a gigantic chore set on your desk with no direction as to how it should get done, and have it be left to your discretion who does what. When an executive or manager has end goals in mind for which he asks individuals in a team, rather than one person, to help her meet, there’s more of a chance each person in the work group will pull his/her weight, and more of a chance everyone will know who is responsible for what. If the project falls through, there isn’t one person (the Professional Project Manager) to blame. Instead the executive can pinpoint exactly who slipped up.

Since project management isn’t going away, and most companies won’t do what I’m suggesting, are there ways to make projects less burdensome? The very word “project” gives me the creeps. Who wants a “project” anyway?  It sounds like a long uninspired process full of things nobody feels like doing. I suppose if I have to not only take part in a “project,” but be managed by a Professional Project Manager, I’d like not to hear too much about the “project.”  Basically, I’m asking to be left in the dark, and out of the loop. I’d like to just be given my chores, told when I’ll have to finish them, and told where new ideas are needed. I definitely don’t want to hear about what everyone else is supposed to be doing (I’ll just get annoyed when I notice they’re not doing it), what the end goals are (I’m liable to think they’re silly or wrong-headed), and the bureaucratic process for getting everything done (the counterproductive red tape will anger me). 

Gossip is fun and entertaining, but a danger of projects is once they’re labeled “projects,” office politics arise, and that nonsense can be dispiriting to employees with idealistic feelings about their work.  Do any of you project managers out there have good ideas for keeping office politics out of a “project,” thereby limiting counterproductive, demoralizing distractions? 

I see office workers, including myself, as horses. I’ve heard, and seen in the movies, horses going through disaster sites like fires with blinders on the sides of their eyes so they stay focused on taking the rider where he needs to go. I think that’s what employees often need.  The things that go on in a corporation are liable to spook the most stoic of workers.  The funny part is real horses will throw their riders off when they get spooked, and that’s exactly what happens in an office environment. Work horses plodding along get spooked and buck the project manager—and the company that put them on the path that frightened them.

What kinds of projects will your company roll out this year?  Are you worried they might not go well?

Comments

[Chris Owen]

I often feel like a horse myself being directed into the fire. I wonder what would happen to the world if we all took off our blinders at once?

[Air Jordan Shoes]

Impressive post. My colleagues and I were just discussing this the other day. Also your page looks great on my old blackberry. Now thats uncommon. Nice work.

[Nathaniel @ project management classes]

This post is great. Expressing your own thoughts about being a project manager.

I also feel quite annoyed hearing projects. But, I think, as a leader(project manager), sharing the "project" with your members lessens your load and it helps to finish the work a little bit faster.

I also think that you should love your work so that you won't feel any burden doing these projects. Good post.

[project management course]

lol! That was funny. However, it is sad also because it is the most common scenario. Being the manager also mean being responsible for that company or team entrusted to you.

Project manager is always brave to face the consequences of his decisions.

[sathiya]

corporate training have a solid history of producing and nurturing their students to be involved, well-rounded, active and contributing leaders in their global community.

[Coach Shoes]

Experience is the na me give their mistakes.

[Kanban simulation]

I agree. The completion of a project is a grueling process. I guess employers like to hire project managers to make the job successful. When it comes to collaboration techniques, project managers and the whole team must attend a training geared towards project completion.

[Belstaff Jackets]

For any folks invested in more and better resident contribution, that is a knock back, i believe. But strangely enough, the newest one-pager Can involve many responsibilities around consultation.

[Blow Up Doll]

YES! I felt like i experienced been the incredibly final just one to decide this movie, as I do not see it in theaters. But I just observed it and I LOVED IT. Zooey Deschanel is my favourite.

[Canada Goose UK]

I think she just wants to be the Asian Ann Coulter.

[Sean Carter]

There are some awful pitfuls that can be easy to fall into without the right training. I attended a PMP boot camp and it really brought to my attention a few things I know I can work better at. It has really increased my productivity