eople,
Projects and Pressure — we know them to be a combustible combination.
But why are technical projects so difficult to manage? Why do
interpersonal issues arise so often on technical project teams?
Can leadership help? The workshop conveys two key messages:
Product, process and people are interdependent.
Excellence is possible for both the organization and the
individual if they work together to achieve it.
Projects are staffed by people. When we forget or ignore this,
we jeopardize project success. And since we cannot avoid personal
issues, we must understand them, which can be especially difficult
in technical environments, when these issues have some technical
content. At this workshop, participants learn:
Models of personality, team behavior, human behavior and
human interactions.
Ideas for making projects less conflicted, more harmonious,
and more predictable.
Positive, thought-provoking and very constructive interaction
choices.
We do this through exercises, simulations and post-workshop
activities oriented to the technical environment. Participants
experience an energetic and humorous atmosphere that many readily
carry back to work.
In four days of sessions, we explore not only what makes managing
technical projects so uniquely difficult, but how to deal with
the problems that arise. Through a series of experiences and
simulations, we apply models of personality and team behavior
to give participants the ability to:
Lead in a complex technology environment
Enhance the effectiveness of meetings
Manage projects more effectively in the context of unknowns,
conflicting priorities, and scarce resources
Deal with interpersonal issues effectively before they mushroom
to become project issues
Deal with project issues effectively before they mushroom
to become organizational issues
Each simulation is oriented to the project environment, yet
is simple enough to provide safe and effective learning opportunities.
Our techniques are derived from the techniques of Gerald Weinberg,
Jean McLendon and Virginia Satir — simplified and made more
accessible to the technical community.
Learning model
In the technical project environment, we usually apply new
technical knowledge in situations that have little emotional
content. But knowledge about how people work together is most
needed in highly charged situations. That's why we use a learning
model that differs from the one often used for technical content.
Our learning model makes the principles of human dynamics
accessible even during moments of stress. Using a mix of presentation,
simulation, group discussion, and metaphorical team problems,
we make available to participants the resources they need to
make new, more constructive choices even in tense situations.
Target audience
Technical leaders and managers and technical
project team members. Participants should have experienced at
least 6 months as a member of a technical project team.
Workshop duration
Formats range from one to four days. Multiple-day formats can be either consecutive, weekly or monthly.
Currently scheduled public events
At this time, there are no public events scheduled for this program. But if you would like to observe the program, I might be able to arrange an opportunity with a current client. Contact me for details.
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