The 5 team leadership principles for project sucess

In order to deliver successful projects, project managers need to be skilled in the nine knowledge areas defined by PMBOK, but there is one particular skill that I consider the most important one, and is your ability as project manager for LEADING your project team. 

Recently I attended a webinar presented by Thomas Juli, where he showed five basic team leadership principles that we should take into account when managing our projects. 

These are some notes i took while attending it:

1) Build a common project Vision --> 

- Analyze playing field

- Motivation statement

- Vision statement

- Project objective statement

2) Nurture Collaboration (players win games, teams win champioships)

- Team = Project´s heart & soul

- Team norming workshop

- Team evolution

- Teamwork

3) Promote Team Performance (Life has no rehersals, only performance)

- Be a role model

- Create right environment

- Empower your team

- Foster solution and results orientation

- Invite productive competition

- Let it happen

- Celebrate performance

4) Cultivate team learning (Learning is not compulsory... neithwer is survival)

- Team Synch

- Project reviews

- Training

- Extended team learning

- Learning & innovation

5) Ensure results (However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results)

As an introduction to the leadership arena, this webminar is a very good starting point.

The slides of the webinar can be found in the following link:

http://thomasjuli.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/webinar-handout-the-5-team-leadership-principles-for-project-success_oct-5-2011.pdf

What is PMI?

In following posts I will make multiple references to PMI and words like PDU, Chapter, Community of Practice and so on. Therefore, first I should explain what is PMI (Project Management Institute) and for that I will refer to what they say in their website:  www.pmi.org

In a competitive global economy, project managers can’t go it alone. So turn to PMI membership to give you the tools and support you need to make your mark on the profession. Discover more about what our membership is and what benefits it offers, and choose the type of membership that’s best for you. 

In a word, dedication. PMI membership signifies that you’re serious about your project management career and your professional development. It highlights this dedication to employers, colleagues and stakeholders, giving you an edge in the job market. It also provides you with access to valuable knowledge, networks and resources that help you improve and advance. 

As a PMI member, you gain exclusive access to PMI publications and our global standards, networking options with our chapters and online communities of practice, and leadership and volunteer opportunities. You’ll also receive discounts on certification exams and renewals, as well as our professional development offerings. 

Whether you’re new to project management or a seasoned veteran, PMI has a membership plan that’s right for you. Check out the membership options we have for practitioners, students and retirees. Group rates are also available.

I have been a PMI member for a while already and I confirm all the value they claim to have above. Being an active member of the PMI Madrid local chapter and the PMI Information Systems Community of Practice is becoming a really great experience. I will share more details about my involvement in this chapter and this community in future posts.

International Project Management Day

Next thursday, the 3rd of November, it will take place the International Project Management Day 2011. It is a free virtual event created by IIL (International Institute for Learning) where you will be able to watch 20 video presentations on a wide variery of topics. 

The list of speakers and presentations can be found in this link:

http://www.iil.com/ipmday-2011/IPMDay2011SpeakerBrochure.pdf

The video presentations will be available for 90 days after the event, and if you watch them, you will be able to report up to 12 PDUs for your PMP credential.

I will try to watch as many as possible and provide in this blog a summary and my opinion for all of them.

If you want to attend the event, this is link where you can register:

http://events.unisfair.com/index.jsp?eid=1022&seid=374

My first post in a blog ever!

I have been many times in the past thinking about sharing my experiences in the project management arena just in case they could be helpful to other people. Recently I have found in the PMI Information Systems Community of Practice a mentoring program sponsored by them that gives the opportunity for joining as a mentor and provide guidance, advice and suggestions to the members that join the program as mentees.

Today I have had the introductory session with the person matched to me and after it I have thought... well, why not make use of the Web2.0 technology and share my experiences as well with the whole world??!! And..., that´s why I am starting this blog where my goal is not only to show my experiences in the project management world, if not as well to share useful information that I receive everyday in my inbox regarding PM related webinars, articles, discussions in forums, conferences, congresses, volunteering activities, and so on.

Let´s see how this "project" goes!!