Minding the Plan

That was the first thing my mother commented on when I showed her the picture above. It just so happens that I was not wearing pajama tops, but a very formal piece of attire, called Batik, commonly worn for special occasions.

I had just started a new project with a large telecom provider in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and was very new to the Malaysian city and culture. I wanted to explore the city a bit, so at the end of one of our last meetings, I asked if anyone wanted to join me for the weekend. Check that, I basically begged someone to take me around the city. A co-worker graciously agreed to show me around and we hit a night market (where I bought the Batik) and a night club. What was even better that was that my colleagues and I had such a good time that they invited me to attend a wedding in a remote village outside of KL (where I wore the Batik). The weekend was a blast and I saw some incredible things; and since I had an expense budget to use, it was all that more sweet.

Right about now, I’m sure you are thinking, “that’s great, but what does this have to do with managing projects?” Well, the one thing that I learned is that for each new project I become involved with, I will always make a point to let people know that I am human, and that I have a life outside of work. It would be a terrible start to the project if the client thought I was a Gantt-chart-creating, budget-hawking stiff. Even if it’s asking, ahem, begging co-workers to go out after work, I make sure that it is one time where I am not bashful.

I found if I make that connection outside of work, then I can quickly establish a trust with co-workers; they can relate to me on a personal level and therefore have a better understanding about decisions I make. They’ll see that I do look out for the needs of others – especially people on my projects. And once they’ve seen my moral structure and my values outside of a work setting, it makes it easier for them to go along with controversial ideas that I may have to make in the future.

Since we now have a rapport, and can joke around together, it makes it easier for co-workers to feel more open and to vent around me when a project gets stressful. For instance, at the wedding I was forced to eat with my hands (which was quite a comical sight), and I would always remind my co-workers of that imagery whenever I needed to cut the tension.

One thing that I would like to warn of is that while the project is still in progress, I am always very careful to maintain an air of professionalism and not end up as buddies; it’s harder to make business decisions if personal matters get in the way. Thus, I recommend inviting a large group of co-workers, and not to single out one (or worse yet the one you are most attracted to).

As a new project manager, one of the toughest things to do is to prove that you’re a leader who should be listened to. Inviting your co-workers out after work creates ample opportunities to show that you are capable of making great decisions, and allows people to be comfortable around you. So, go out there, don’t be bashful and ask your co-workers to hang out after work. I guarantee you will create memories that you won’t forget.

Best,

Josh

P.S. – Have any good examples of how you approach new projects? Add a comment below.