15: The Ancient Masters

The effective learning cycle was first espoused many years ago.  It is an iterative process that suggests we learn best if we go through four stages of the cycle: plan something, do it, reflect on how it worked and then draw conclusions from it about what we will do next time.  As a project manager we can share our experiences and encourage the team to reflect on these and their own experiences.  Reflection helps us to see how things happen.  When we reflect we are grounded in the infinite.  

The Way  
The wise project manager is considerate and does harm to no one.  He is courteous and knows how to yield gracefully.  He is open and receptive and can clarify things for others, because he has been there himself.  The wise project manager is not trying to be enlightened, because he is enlightened.  

The ancient masters were subtle and profound.  
The depth of their knowledge was unfathomable.  

The sage does not seek fulfilment.  
Not seeking, not expecting,  
He can welcome everything.  

“The Way of the Project Manager” by John Carroll (ISBN 978-1481076111), is published by CreateSpace and available from Amazon in hard copy and on Amazon Kindle.

14: Staying Aware

One sure sign of a poor project manager is one who does not know what's going on in his project.  He may keep questioning the team to find out, but that will only irritate the team members and it is not the way.  

The Way  
We need to become silent and listen with our inner selves.  The wise project manager stays in the present.  The past is over and done with, there's no point in thinking about what might have been.  Likewise there's no point in trying to second guess the future, it will be what it will be.  

Look and it cannot be seen.  
Listen and it cannot be heard.  
Grasp and it cannot be held.  

Grasp the strangeness which is Tao.  
Mindful of what exists now.  
Knowing the ancient beginning,  
Is the essence of wisdom.  

“The Way of the Project Manager” by John Carroll (ISBN 978-1481076111), is published by CreateSpace and available from Amazon in hard copy and on Amazon Kindle.

13: Project Success

For the project manager, success on projects is usually measured by whether the project is delivered on time, within budget and with all the required features and functionality (or on agile projects with all the required features and functionality that can be delivered in the available time). A poor project manager concentrates on getting the project in on time and within budget, a better project manager adds the required features and functionality.  

The Way  
But the wise project manager includes and cares for the users, the team and all the other project stakeholders.  He lets them be the judges of whether or not the project is successful.  

Misfortune comes from having a body.  
Without a body, how could there be misfortune?  
Therefore honor life as yourself.  
Have faith in the way things are.  
Love the world as your own self,  
Then you can truly care for all things.  

“The Way of the Project Manager” by John Carroll (ISBN 978-1481076111), is published by CreateSpace and available from Amazon in hard copy and on Amazon Kindle.

A Learning Experience

The Way of the Project Manager is also the way of lifelong learning and to that end I will be going to the PMI Netherlands Summit on Thursday, June 13th 2013, as part of the “blog team”. 

The conference is being organized by the PMI Netherlands Chapter and CKC Seminars in Zeist, the Netherlands and is being aimed at Project, Program and Portfolio professionals.  

The central theme of the event is: “A one day learning experience that will last for years” so I am very much looking forward to it, not to mention the chance to visit the Netherlands again.

The organizers say that an inspiring program is guaranteed, with keynote sessions by international thought leaders, expert insights and lessons learned from experienced project practitioners. 

The keynote speakers are:
Cees Pijs, President, PMI Netherlands Chapter
Dr. Lynn Crawford, Professor of Project Management, Bond University, Australia, Director, Human Systems International Limited
Dr. Terry Cooke-Davies, International Group Chairman, Human Systems, Visiting Research fellow, Cranfield University
Joseph F. Norton: Senior Vice President, Deputy CIO and Head of IT Infrastructure & Operations, Royal Philips, Member, PMI Executive Council, Chicago
Jacques Dunselman, Program Manager & Principal Consultant, Capgemini

Full details and a downloadable brochure are available from the PMI Netherlands web site at: 

http://www.pmi-netherlands-summit.com/

I look forward to meeting up with fellow project management practitioners (and bloggers) at the event so do let me know if you are going (and if you would like to meet up for a beer afterwards).

12: Staying Calm

I have been having problems getting my screen shots right for the next edition of Project 2013 and one problem is that PaintShop Pro can produce CMYK TIF files but not at the best definition.  My publisher told me that Photoshop Essentials could do the trick so I’ve just bought it only to find that while it does everything else brilliantly it doesn’t produce CMYK files, I need the full version of Photoshop which is was too expensive. Stay calm, we will be able to work something out.

The Way  
The wise project manager is guided by what he feels and not by what he sees happening around him.  Stay still and calm and be guided by your inner feelings, not what you are being told.  When we take time to reflect, the way becomes clearer, for this is the way of the project manager. 

Galloping and hunting madden the heart.  
Desires lead one astray.  
Therefore the sage is guided by his stomach,  
And not his eye.  
He discards the one and holds the other.  

“The Way of the Project Manager” by John Carroll (ISBN 978-1481076111), is published by CreateSpace and available from Amazon in hard copy and on Amazon Kindle.