What I liked about the book: “The Power of Project Leadership: 7 Keys to Help You Transform from Project Manager to Project Leader” by Susanne Madsen, is the fact that it’s an easy read and it’s applied specifically to project managers. For project managers who are seriously aspiring to become better leaders, the book will help make the transition from project manager to project leader. Looking at project management future trends, more leaders are what organisations need.
Susanne Madsen
It’s organised into 4 chapters and very practical with exercises, reflective questions, check-lists and calls to action. An excellent break-down of the six human needs is given and you are guided towards an in-depth understanding of your own values and beliefs. The seven keys of Leadership are covered in much detail. It guides you to new insights and helps you to become very clear on your intentions.
There are multiple resources spread through-out the book that will help you to change your mind-set. Susanne has a very engaging writing style, she shares useful tools and perspectives from experienced project managers that inspire.
The book has the potential to take you on a journey of transformation from manager to leader, to being conscious about what you want to achieve. It will help you gain clarity on the impact you would like to have on other people, on projects and on the industry. You are guided to compile your own project leadership vision and to determine your action steps.
The book leaves you with the thought: “unleash your project leadership potential, because the world needs your leadership” and that will inspire you to follow through with your action plan.
I would recommend this book to all fellow project management professionals and PMO leaders. For more information about the author, the book and many other resources, visit the Power of Project Leadership website.
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Many definitions of leadershipcan be found and in essence leadership is about people, about change and about achieving goals. This article will explore leadership skills in the digital era.
In an article published on the site, Executives Online, the author, Andrew MacAskill (Feb 18, 2015) identifies “5 Essential Skills of a Future Super Leader” as:
Digital savvy
An engineering mindset
An agile risk taker
A true believe in corporate and social responsibility
Great self-leaders
Digital savvy
A digital savvy leader must have a solid understanding of current technologies that enables a social and global connectivity to be in touch with the changes demanded or needed in society, industry and the market place. These technologies provide the means to create knowledge from an explosion of information to allow for identification of a change or a trend. A leader also uses these tools to drive the change.
Engineering mindset
A leader must have an engineering mindset to apply new technology concepts and trends such as Cloud Computing, Telemetry and Big Data to enable people to innovate within an industry and thereby leading people to change through applied innovation.
Agile risk taker
Risk is inevitable. MacAskill describes that risk can be valuable when a leader practices intelligent risk taking which is sometimes necessary, to prosper. Leaders must be informed and knowledgeable to know when to take calculated risks, when to avoid it and how to manage risks in particular situations. A leader needs to be in touch and digitally connected to be a successful, agile risk taker.
Corporate and social responsibility
Capitalism in its essence cannot be socially responsible however business leaders live in a capitalist world with a growing demand for social responsibility to ensure sustainability. A true future leader within the digital era must therefore apply technology and innovation to create a mindset or psyche of social responsibility. This requires entrenchment of the concepts of sustainability in the organization, with employees and customers alike and in the community.
Self-leaders
Leadership is not instructional. A leader must be a successful business leader, an upstanding community leader and a followed people leader. In business, a leader must apply him or herself to specialize or master a subject, apply his / her expertise in the community and be in touch with emotions, passions and abilities of people to lead.
It is important to remember that leadership skills can be developed. Leaders of today must become future super leaders as MacAskill describes them where the leadership traits and styles are applied within the context of the digital era.
About the Author:
Roelof Louw is an IT professional with a passion for how people, technology and process are applied in business, community and society to improve, drive change and innovate. At present Roelof focuses on applying his career experience in IT management and strategy as well as consultation on Cloud, Managed Services and Computing Services topics. Connect with Roelof on Linkedin or mail him at roelof.louw@gmail.com
Recently I attended a school function where the head master passionately explained the school’s values. It made an impression on me and I wanted to share them with you as I believe they will help you become more value driven as a project leader.
FAITH
You need to have faith in yourself. That means you need to conduct your business with confidence, creating trust with the client that you’re serving, and trust with team members and stakeholders on projects.
People need to know that they can rely on you. You have a sense of loyalty, you show commitment to what you promised and you work with dedication to achieve your goals.
INTEGRITY
Good leadership demands commitment to ethical practices. You show integrity and set the standards for ethical behaviour. That means conducting your business with honesty and truthfulness in all circumstances. You take honour in the service that you deliver and you are completely reliable.
RESPONSIBILITY
You can be held accountable for duties that are your responsibility. People see you as being trustworthy and dependable to take charge and complete the tasks that you set out to perform.
EXCELLENCE
You strive to excel in all you do. Over time it will show in the quality of your work and people will perceive you as being competent and even brilliant in your field of expertise. That distinction will differentiate you in the market and make your services sought after.
When serving our customers and stakeholders we need to strive for good values, otherwise we will lack F-I-R-E! People want to follow leaders with enthusiasm and a can-do attitude. As Timothy Barry puts it in this article: “Top 10 Qualities of a Project Manager”, ‘Enthusiastic leaders are committed to their goals and express this commitment through optimism’.
Let the FIRE burn inside us in 2015 and make it easy for others to follow you as an inspirational leader.
As Project Managers we all need to use Presentations as one of the channels we communicate with. As part of our daily job, some project managers become really good at it and know how to engage with their audience through powerful presentations.
For most people the ability to deliver great presentations starts with practice that comes from experience, but also from adequate planning and lots of preparation.
Below is an ebook consisting of advice from experts who share their secrets to giving powerful presentations that will get people to take action.
Enjoy the read!
As a Project Manager you need motivation to excel in all aspects of your role. Here are 15 quotes about leadership, people management, project planning, success and failure. I trust that reading and sharing this will inspire you!
An excellent Leadership ebook has been released by AtTask containing lessons from well-known Project, Program and Portfolio Management experts about making the transition from project management to project leadership.
Gartner predicted a massive change in the world of project management—a change that is forcing project managers into a greater leadership role and requiring them to work closely with senior executives. Making the shift from project management to project leadership isn’t easy, but the rewards can be significant. Read the stories for inspiration to become a better leader.
It has always been difficult to calculate the Return on Investment (ROI) of investing in corporate training. Through the Infographic below corporate business leaders will see the various training fields where they can invest their money. Look how ROI has been categorized for different training areas. This will help business leaders take training decisions wisely.
The Infographic is supplied by Protential Human Capital Development, a leading provider of world class employee development training. Protential have over a decade of experience in training and consultancy in the United Kingdom, and other regions like Europe, Asia and North Africa.
The 5th of December 2013 was a tragic day for South Africa, the passing of Nelson Mandela at the age of 95. He has changed the course of modern history because of his fight against apartheid, the 27 years spent in prison and serving as our nation’s first black president of a democratic elected government.
As a leader he will always be remembered for his passion to fight for his vision, his willingness to forgive, freedom for all and reconciliation.
Nelson Mandela was born the son of a tribal chief in Transkei, a Xhosa homeland. Many South Africans of all races call him by his clan name, Madiba, which means “reconciler,” as a token of affection and respect.
Imprisonment
A statement made during the sabotage trial in 1964 by Mandela showed his ideal:
“During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”
He was sentenced to life in prison, which he spent mostly at Robben Island off the coast of Cape Town.
In his autobiography, “Long Walk to Freedom,” he would write about his life after prison:
“As I finally walked through those gates … I felt — even at the age of seventy-one — that my life was beginning anew.”
President of first democratic elected government
South African President Nelson Mandela takes the oath
When Mandela became President in 1994, he closed his inauguration speech with:
“Let freedom reign. The sun shall never set on so glorious a human achievement! God bless Africa!”
Mandela celebrated holidays and hosted friends among the huts of rural Qunu in a replica of the prison guard’s home where he lived during his final days of confinement. Qunu is also where he was buried on 15 December 2013. About 5,000 people attended the state funeral, and millions more watched it on television.
Father of the Nation
Nelson Mandela is known as the father of the nation. This is evident when looking at new banknotes, released by the central bank in 2012, showing his face. Mandela statues are in front of buildings and squares; places are named after him. South African Airways even emblazoned his silhouetted image on planes.
There are some famous projects associated with the Nelson Mandela Foundation. From the Centre of Memory a $1.25 million project to digitally preserve a record of Mandela’s life, went online last year. The project by Google and Mandela’s archivists gives researchers access to hundreds of documents, photographs and videos.
The Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund (NMCF) is a charitable organization founded by Nelson Mandela. Its mission is to help individuals from birth to age 22, and particularly orphans of the AIDS crisis. The fund currently has offices in Johannesburg, South Africa (Head Office) and in London, United Kingdom, which focuses on fundraising.
The ‘Nelson Mandela Day’ project is to inspire individuals to take action to help change the world for the better, and in doing so build a global movement for good. Ultimately it seeks to empower communities everywhere.
Mandela’s last public appearance was in 2010. It was during the Soccer World Cup 2010, hosted by South Africa at the Soccer City stadium when he smiled broadly and waved to the crowd during the closing ceremony of the World Cup.
The other unforgettable appearance during a sport event was during the 1995 Rugby World Cup, hosted by South Africa, when he appeared at the final in Johannesburg, wearing a Springbok jersey to congratulate the victorious home team.
Visionary leader
He will be remembered as a visionary leader who managed to unite South Africa and who set an excellent example to leaders. As stated by Joyce Banda, the president of Malawi: “Leadership is about loving the people you serve and the people you serve falling in love with you. It is about serving the people with selflessness, with sacrifice and with the need to put the common good ahead of personal interests.”
That is what Nelson Mandela stood for and how he has won the hearts and minds of many people not only in South Africa, but all over the world. He was truly inspirational as captured in many of his quotes:
“A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination”.
“When people are determined they can overcome anything”.
Thanks Madiba for the legacy that you are leaving behind…
Business conferences are one of the best ways to expand your business and bring new life to your company. At Convergence, you will find everything you need to rock your industry, including exciting new Microsoft products, hundreds of sponsors, and potential connections with thousands of other companies.
Convergence is designed to help businesses in the following ways:
#1 Meeting Profitable Connections
Convergence is all about getting to know other top industry leaders from around the world. You will see a wealth of sponsors and even top Microsoft professionals that can partner with your company for a profitable relationship between both companies. Hundreds of businesses are attending the conference and are looking to make connections just like you. The person you meet in the elevator may be your next big client.
#2 Finding New Uses for Microsoft Tools
Participants will learn how to unlock the true potential of all Microsoft products. The tracks in the conference are designed to make your company better. You will find information covering new products like new apps for specific industries, new mobile capabilities, and the best cash management functions.
#3 Learning Out-of-the-box Ideas
All of the speakers at the Convergence conference are top leaders of Microsoft products. The speakers will communicate the new vision of Microsoft and talk about their own experiences with the product. You will find sessions that offer value to the following industries:
Government, education, and healthcare
Professional services
Financial services
Retail
Manufacturing
If you want to take your business to the next level with the help of Microsoft, then you will want to make sure you are able to attend the Convergence conference. Make sure you book your spot early to ensure you can attend and really get the value you need. Click the infographic to learn more about the conference and how you can prepare.
Good project managers always look for ways to improve their leadership skills. Excellent project managers will apply these skills to become better leaders. One such tool to improve your skills, is the book: “The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace: Empowering Organizations by Encouraging People” by Gary Chapman and Paul White.
While being familiar with the “5 Love Languages” I was curious to know how the love language concept is applied to the workplace. Then more specifically I wanted to understand how words of appreciation can help a project manager become better at leading his/her project teams.
The book is aimed at helping managers effectively communicate appreciation and encouragement to their employees, resulting in higher levels of job satisfaction, healthier relationships between managers and employees, and decreased cases of burnout.
It helps to identify an individuals’ preference in the languages of appreciation. Understanding an individual’s primary and secondary languages of appreciation can assist managers in communicating effectively to their team members. It also relates to the power of acknowledgement – see “The Power of Grateful Leadership” for more.
Languages of Appreciation
According to the “5 Languages of Appreciation” there are five ways to show your appreciation in the work-place:
Words of affirmation
Acts of service
Tangible gifts
Quality time
Touch (language of touch is less important in the workplace than in personal relationships)
Benefits
The languages of appreciation in the workplace have shown to significantly improve relationships among co-workers (team members) and to make workplace environments more positive for all who work there.
Motivating through action
For each language of appreciation, there are specific actions that could be taken. Here are some good examples: (focusing on the first 4 languages only) 1
Words of Affirmation
Write me an email and acknowledge when I have done a good job.
Acknowledge my effort of a project, in the presence of my teammates.
Tell me “thank you” or give me a specific compliment.
Give our team a group compliment when we have done well.
Send me a text message after I have completed a task well.
Let me know when others have commented positively on my work.
Quality Time
Go to lunch together and not talk about business issues.
Invite me to go to lunch with project team members.
Stop by, sit down or have a weekly “check in” meeting to see how things are going.
Debrief a recently completed project with me.
Acts of Service
Help me get my computer to work correctly/more efficiently.
Assign someone to answer the phones so that I can complete reports tasks that require undivided attention.
When working on a time-sensitive project, protect my time from additional requests.
Tangible Gifts
Movie tickets.
Gift certificate for a bookstore or outdoor / sporting store.
Allow me to come in early and leave early that day.
Provide a special luncheon to celebrate an accomplishment by our team.
In addition to the book, you will find on the website: www.appreciationatwork.com more resources to use. One such resource is the “Motivating by Appreciation (MBA) Inventory” tool to assess your team members in order to understand how to express appreciation that resonates with each individual. Each book purchased also comes with a code inside for one free MBA inventory.
If you take the time to discover your language of appreciation, as well as that of your team members you can create a group profile showing the team members’ primary and secondary language. See example below: 2
Then you create Action Items for the Group serving as a reminder of what to do to make your team members feel appreciated for their hard work and efforts.
There are some signs that will tell you when team members need a message of appreciation or encouragement: 3
Discouragement
Irritability and resistance
Increased absenteeism
Apathy
Social withdrawal.
Problems with Language of Appreciation and how to overcome them
There are some problems with appreciation like when you genuinely appreciate some-one, but they don’t believe you are sincere. To get past a perceived inauthenticity, it is important to only communicate it when it’s true and to state your desire to be viewed as genuine. An example: “In spite of not saying this enough in the past, I wanted to let you know that I appreciate ….”.
You also need to be communicating appreciation consistently over time. When you team members feel valued and appreciated, good things will happen. There will be loyalty and commitment to the project, to the stakeholders, and to a successful outcome.
One of the most common challenges in today’s work-place, is to find the time to improve on communication and conflict resolution skills.
Leaders complain about people being lazy or not doing their jobs right, or people complain about the leaders being so busy that they don’t have time to spend with their people. The workforce complains their leaders don’t set expectations, don’t ask for feedback and don’t really care about them. Then we wonder why companies have a gap between their vision and the results they are achieving. Everything in life and business revolves not just around communication but the “right kind of communication.”
Communication is the # 1 problem in almost all businesses
Why is communication considered as the main problem in many businesses?
It keeps the people and the organization from reaching their potential.
It’s not because people aren’t talking, but in most cases, it’s the “wrong kind” of communication or a “lack of the right kind.”
People are talking at each other, but not getting through.
Servant Leaders and communication
What Servant Leaders have learned about great communication is:
Setting Goals
Helping people understand what is expected and why?
What they will be measured by?
Performance reviews—how they are doing, what are they doing well and the areas they need to improve on.
Asking people for their ideas and suggestions.
Providing, inspiration, encouragement and motivation.
Discipline
Conflict Resolution
I’m your “coach not your boss.” I’m here for you.
Servant leaders know it’s their goal to “help both the people and the bottom line grow.”
It’s not an either or. You need both for a business and its people to build a sustainable competitive advantage.
Communication and Conflict Resolution
Servant Leaders need to realize about communication and conflict resolution:
As part of a series of articles about Leadership Styles, today’s post is about the vision of a Servant Leader.
The best strategy to achieve organizational goals and create competitive advantage is by developing an environment of caring, mutual trust, and respect between the leaders and the people by focusing their efforts and strategy on developing the full potential of all associates and the business, therefore creating a winning partnership.
Servant Leaders Live Their Vision By:
Treating people as the most important asset in the company
Seeing people not as they are today but their potential
Realizing people are more important than tasks
Measuring their own success by the success of those they lead
Knowing leadership is about building relationships throughout the company
Impacting people’s lives by mentoring and coaching
Setting goals, objectives, actions, and measurements, with accountability for the results
Leading not just with their words but with their actions and modeling the behavior
Believing it is the responsibility of leaders to make a difference in people’s lives
Encouraging, inspiring, and motivating their people
When you see the definition and vision of a servant leader, it seems it should be something every leader and every company would want to embrace. It’s hard to argue with developing leaders who exhibit such skills, abilities, vision, and philosophy for leading others. But for many, it’s hard for them to understand the importance and make servant leadership a way of life.
Often when companies have tried to start new initiatives to improve relationships with their people, it has failed, because there is no real strategy or plan for developing and implementing a process. Real change takes time, patience and perseverance to make the needed people and culture improvements.
They look at it as a program and not as an on-going process. Programs are usually looked at as something short term, while process-building is for the long term. If servant leadership is going to be successful, leadership must be committed to the journey and the changes that everyone in the company will need to make in the way they lead, interact, and think about the people they lead.
Success Factors for Servant Leadership
Some of those changes will require a commitment that causes leaders to learn how to:
Balance the leadership of the people with the stewardship of the company.
Establish the expectations with their leadership for this new servant leadership style.
Obtain support by all senior leadership (from the top), or it will not work
Ensure leaders, supervisors, and middle -managers who won’t support it or cannot change leave the company.
Realize it is a journey and not a quick fix.
Communicate the process and the strategy to the total workforce, so they know what is happening and will hold you accountable for making it happen.
Expect scepticism from some associates.
Remove the barriers that keep people and the company from reaching their goals.
Empower your people.
Dramatically improve communication up and down the chain; communication will be the glue that makes it work.
Build real relationships with those they lead.
Make resolving conflict “job one,” because there will be plenty of conflicts as you implement this strategy.
Move your company from reactive to proactive in its personality.
Position people as problems solvers, not problems in the mind of all the leaders.
Develop an atmosphere of innovation and imagination.
Make motivating, encouraging, inspiring, and energizing your people the new normal.
Train and teach to build your associates into a team of champions.
See problems as opportunities.
Concentrate on developing the potential of your people.
Set goals, objectives, actions, and measurements, with accountability for the results. Build a sense of community, where everyone is pulling together to build your competitive advantage.
Train, teach, and learn over and over.
Remember there will sometimes be pain in the journey, but it will be worth it.
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