The transcript lists the following power skills from Michaela Flick's book: leadership, ethics, culture, values, diversity, agile mindset, teamwork, communication, conflicts and crisis management, encouragement, motivation, creativity, problem-solving, and negotiating.
This video podcast discusses the importance of soft skills (referred to as "power skills" by the speakers) in project management. The interview with Michaela Flick, a project management trainer and author, explores various soft skills and how they contribute to project success, drawing examples from her experience and her book, Understanding Practical Project Management.
Based on the provided transcript, Michaela Flick defines "power skills" as another term for soft skills, but she prefers the term "power skills" because it better reflects the significant impact these skills have on projects and people. She argues that "soft skills" sounds too easy or unimportant, while "power skills" emphasizes their crucial role in successful project management, particularly in the human interactions inherent in project work.
The transcript provides an example of a project manager using power skills to successfully navigate a challenging situation. Faced with a difficult meeting with a steering committee, instead of giving a lengthy explanation of problems, the project manager used a visual representation: she colored a sheet of paper red and drew a small fish on it, saying "This is a small fish in a big red sea." This visual and metaphorical representation helped the committee understand the severity of the situation (the red sea representing problems) and prompted them to discuss the issues and find a solution, ultimately helping the project move forward. This illustrates the use of visual communication, emotional intelligence, and creative problem-solving – all power skills.
According to the transcript, culture, values, and diversity are important because many projects are international and involve diverse teams with differing opinions, mindsets, and cultural backgrounds. Successfully managing these differences requires acknowledging and addressing them openly. While initially challenging, this diversity can be leveraged as a strength, contributing to a broader range of experiences, perspectives, and creative problem-solving abilities, ultimately enriching the project. However, it's crucial to address potential conflicts arising from these differences through open communication and understanding to achieve the best team outcomes.
The transcript suggests that as a project manager, ensuring ethical behavior while balancing pressures like deadlines and stakeholder expectations requires a multi-pronged approach. First, proactively address ethical considerations from the project's outset by defining process goals and ethical considerations in project design. Analyze the project's environment to identify potential ethical challenges early. Don't hesitate to seek guidance from experts when needed. Open communication is key—discuss ethical concerns openly with the team, establishing shared understanding and commitment to ethical conduct. Finally, remember that ethical behavior is not solely the responsibility of the project manager; it requires the commitment of the entire team.
The transcript emphasizes that courage and motivation are extremely important for project managers and their teams. Motivation keeps the team moving forward; without it, projects become significantly more difficult. The speaker connects this to historical examples, showing that even highly motivated volunteers eventually lost their drive when conditions became too difficult. In project management, maintaining motivation requires understanding and addressing individual team members' needs and fostering a collaborative environment. Courage is needed for both the project manager (to make tough decisions and weather challenges) and the team (to speak up when necessary, even if it means challenging the project manager or established processes). Lack of courage can lead to avoidance of problems and ultimately project failure.
The transcript highlights that teamwork and leadership are interdependent and essential for project success. Projects inherently involve teams, requiring collaboration and coordination. Leadership, while potentially evolving from traditional top-down models to more collaborative styles (like servant leadership), is necessary to guide, empower, and make decisions within the team. The effective project manager balances assertive leadership with team participation, understanding individual team member needs and fostering a shared sense of purpose to achieve project goals. Without either effective teamwork or leadership, projects risk becoming chaotic and unproductive.
The transcript suggests several generic strategies to foster teamwork: Start with an in-person project kickoff to allow team members to get to know each other and build rapport. Invest time in discussions about individual team members' strengths. For more diverse teams, consider activities like potluck dinners to encourage informal interaction and understanding. These early investments in team building can save time and money in the long run by establishing stronger working relationships and improving communication.
The interviewee notes that encouraging creativity and problem-solving within a project, while maintaining structure and deadlines, requires a nuanced approach. It's not simply about unstructured brainstorming, but also utilizing structured, analytical techniques depending on the project phase. In the early stages, when less is known, more divergent, "out-of-the-box" thinking is needed. Later, more convergent, analytical methods may be more appropriate. Techniques like morphological boxes can help structure the creative process. Crucially, understanding the problem thoroughly before searching for solutions is paramount to prevent wasted effort and scope creep. The project manager plays a key role in guiding this process, ensuring that creative exploration remains focused on project objectives and avoids exceeding the defined scope.
The transcript suggests that avoiding scope creep stemming from creativity and problem-solving begins with clearly defining project goals and customer expectations from the outset. This involves establishing a shared understanding of what constitutes project success and the desired outcomes. Regularly reviewing these goals throughout the project helps maintain focus and ensures that creative solutions align with the initial objectives. By keeping the project's purpose and defined scope at the forefront, the project manager can guide the team's creative efforts, ensuring that any new ideas or solutions remain within the agreed-upon parameters.
The main takeaways from the interview, according to Michaela Flick, are:
Power skills matter more than often assumed: It's crucial to understand and utilize power skills effectively.
Avoid assumptions: Don't assume what's best for others; ask questions, build relationships, and understand individual needs and motivations. Embrace and leverage diversity, acknowledging that working effectively with diverse viewpoints requires effort and open communication. Business is hard work, but the rewards of effective collaboration are significant.
