What makes a great project leader? Well, this is a question that every project leader asks but while there is no silver bullet to propel you to become a better manager, it is guaranteed that assuming your team can read your mind will lead to failure. The assumption that everything will work seamlessly is the first step to a project’s failure.
Deadly Presumptions
A study by Anna Ranieri published in the Harvard Business Review says that mind reading is one of the greatest risks facing any kind of working relationship. In a team everyone has a role to play and when these duties are not well defined, the risk of confusion and ultimate failure arises.
The fact that you are the senior member of the team means that everyone will be looking up to you and with no clear cut allocation of roles, team members will judge you negatively according to research. More importantly, you need to appreciate that productivity in any project is pegged on every member achieving their individual roles in a project.
Lessons from the Apollo II Moon Landing project
In regards to arranging the Apollo II Moon Landing project in the 1960s, Dr. Robert Gilruth emphasized about the ambitious nature of the project against political expectations. The project leader says that ultimately President Kennedy’s dream was achieved not through individual expertise but by disparate execution of roles by the large team of members involved in the project.
Furthermore, Dr. Maxime A. Faget, Chief Engineer and Designer says that during Kennedy’s announcement of the moon landing mission, the team didn’t really have what it takes to land someone on the moon within 10 years. The team, however, knew what had to be done especially when it came to individual roles and this was one of the biggest contributors to the project’s success. The team maintained cohesion and eventually achieved a fete that the science world still reckons as one of the greatest milestones for mankind. The secret to this success was simple; everyone knew their role and the project leaders were actively involved to ensure the success of the project.
Risks of Depending on Mind Reading
The main danger of relying on mind reading is lack of responsibility among team members. In essence, everyone will forego their duties until you come up with solutions. Lack of proactive thinking will eventually ruin the entire project, which is devastating for a project manager’s career.
It might not be immediately notable but with time some of these traits will develop when you start assuming you team can read your mind:
1. Fear of taking risks
2. Blame game
3. Missing deadlines
4. Avoiding taking initiatives
5. Lack of trust among members
6. Avoiding challenging tasks
7. Making excuses regularly
As a project manager you need to appreciate the grave risk that your project faces when these traits develop. Your stakeholders will be on your case when things start going south and it is crucial to avert this situation sooner than later.
Risky Shortcut
Truth be told, everyone wants it easy; as a project manager you want things to flow seamlessly without having to get your hands dirty. Mind reading is one of the easiest shortcuts used by project managers. It is easy to presume that everyone in your team knows what needs to be done in order to achieve overall objectives.
It is a risky management practice that can lead to inflated costs when mistakes are made and even worse, confusion within the team. When members realize there are no clear guidelines on what needs to be done, everyone will start shirking responsibilities and using shortcuts knowing that you cannot crack the whip.
How to avoid Mind Reading
Well, it is obvious that mind reading can devastate your project but the problem is exacerbated by the fact that it occurs inadvertently. The question as a project manager is how to avoid presumptions during the contract.
Here are some invaluable tips to become a better manager who doesn’t work on assumptions:
1. Plan and Let Everyone in
When planning a project it is critical to let members in on what is really going to happen on the ground. Once you have consulted with the stakeholders you need to get down and apprise your team on what is going to happen. Conclusively, any successful project involves consultation so that everyone understands their duties.
2. Define Specific Roles
Project managers sometimes assume that because they are dealing with professionals everyone knows what to do. Well, you need to recognize that every project is unique and sometimes your software engineer might also be forced to do some hardware purchase advisory tasks. In essence, make sure everyone knows what to do at every phase of the project because roles can change as work goes on.
3. Keep Open Lines of Communication
Communication will either make or break your project. The more you talk to the team, the better the results. Through both formal and informal communication you are able to assess problem areas while also educating members about the project. In essence, no one will ever say they had inadequate information about their roles or the objectives of the project.
All modifications must be communicated promptly to avoid hiccups while evaluation reports must be made available for members to know how they are faring. Re-engaging people according to analysts is a sure way of rejuvenating a project as no one will have to wait for directions at every given time.
4. Avoid Micromanaging
One of the biggest pitfalls of project leaders is micromanaging. When members shirk taking responsibility it is most likely the effect of the manager breathing down their backs and dictating ever last detail. You need to acknowledge that these specialists have the prerequisite skills to carry out specific tasks, which is why they are on the team. Thus, it is advisable to let them work independently even as you supervise the project.
5. Motivate
According to Fredrick Herzberg’s motivation theory, every worker needs to achieve, receive recognition, experience growth, have a good relationship with the boss and also earnt responsibilities. You should work towards helping your staff achieve this and much more so that they work proactively without having to read your mind.
Final Word
As a project manager you need to understand that having worked with a team doesn’t mean they can read your mind. It is important to define goals and objectives of every project while also emphasizing specific roles of every team member. By creating a satisfactory job environment, motivating workers, delegating duties and constantly communicating the project’s overall objectives, you will eventually achieve the desired results.
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