Following the Leader
“Lessons learned” is a phrase used across the project management industry as well as in life. When I tell my 8 year old not to touch the stove, she knows that I must have touched it before and it’s not good! Lessons learned for a Project Manager is what makes the PM more of an expert and allows others to learn from their mistakes and [even some] successes. How can you take these valuable lessons and apply them to others?
To deliver lessons learned is one thing; to receive is quite another. I challenge all PM’s, no matter where you are in your career, to listen to those lessons learned by others. You may find that even a new PM has learned something that will spare you a lot of clean up in the future.
I have come to enjoy taking on projects that are outside of my comfort zone. In doing this, I have picked up new skills. For example, I am skilled at software development projects and organization change management. However, I have been challenged with learning budget management and taking on budget forecasting projects. As I am going through my regular project management steps, I am jotting down new lessons learned, but my teachers are actually realizing potential gaps in their current processes as well. Together we are making improvements that were absolutely necessary, but weren’t initially known.
There are added benefits from taking on these challenges as well; meeting new people. Forever, I have been known by my previous skills and my landscape was limited. Taking on new skills opened the flood gates to new people with greater skills and more lessons to be learned! Sharing lessons learned is easier at this capacity because everyone comes to the table with something to share.
Being able to provide and receive information makes for a credible resource. Obtaining respect from your organization is what is strived for and ultimately obtained.
Speak and share! Attend and offer to speak at engagements and events that allow the sharing of information. Sitting behind a desk sharing information and lessons learned only helps some people. What is shocking is that there is a real demand out there for knowledge. Forums like PM Majik allow the voices to be heard and believe me there are people waiting to listen!
One of my favorite ways to learn from another, is to shadow them. This basically means sitting in the shadows, while they conduct meetings, review emails and communications and/or other areas where there may need to be improvement and development. It has been motivating to self-realize that I actually came up to the same conclusion as the person that I am shadowing. It has also been an interesting journey to learn that my weaknesses were actually in people skills, rather than PM skills.
I believe a great leader is a great follower. Be constantly willing to learn and share what you have to share!
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Great article! I never thought about myself or others in this way. I think PMP’s likely beleive they are experts, so I’m hoping that they share more. However, I am also a PMP, so I’m actually hoping that I learn more!