It's All About The Details

Growing up, I can recall numerous times where I would get into a disagreement with some authority figure over whether or not I was listening to what they were saying. Regardless of the scenario, it would always conclude with the following dialogue...

THEM: "...Are you listening?"
ME: "I heard you"
THEM: "I didn't ask if you heard me, I asked if you were listening!..."

So...what is the difference between hearing and listening?! The answer is in the details!

When trying to think of a topic for today's entry, I recalled a recent lecture that I attended, in which the speaker was discussing relationships and how the key to a successful relationship is in the details. The speaker gave off various examples of details, such as the outfit she wore the first time you met or what her favourite flower is... but basically, the message that he was trying to get across was, that it's the little details that reveal the true nature of a person and that keep a relationship going strong.

While listening to this lecture, I began to think about work (as has become a habit of mine) and it dawned on me that this little nugget of information is not only the key to a successful relationship, but it is the key to a successful Project Manager as well. Attention to details, can impact on every aspect of a Project Manager's role from start to finish, such as initial planning and scoping, project production, and overall client relationships.

Scoping ~ Over the past few weeks, it seems that every day has been comprised of scoping and planning various projects, and while it tends to be a very time consuming task it's one of the more exciting aspects of project management. As a Project Manager, my typical day is made up of running from one task to the next making sure that everything is moving along on time and on budget, without ever really taking a step back to look at the overall picture. However, when you're scoping a project, you have that opportunity to really focus in on the details, removing yourself from the craziness around you and focusing in on every aspect of the project. What does the client need? What does the client want? What kind of budget do we have? How quickly can we get it done? Will we have the right resources available?... Taking account of all of the details at the beginning, prevents the occurrence of surprises at the end, and is what can differentiate a successful project, from a disastrous one.

Production ~ The importance of details in the production of a project is what stands you out from your competitors. Whether it's spending that extra time when writing the copy to make sure that all the commas are in place, adding that drop shadow around your graphic to give it that extra polished look, or making sure that you project looks good on both a PC and a MAC? All these extra little steps, these little details, shows your client that you are truly invested in the project, that it is not just a paycheck or a job, but rather that you genuinely care about the end product, which is what can change a one-off project to a ongoing work relationship.

Relationships ~ Attention to details, as explained in the lecture, is such a key component to a successful relationship, it is what tells the other person, that you acknowledge that the relationship is not just about you, but rather it is about two people. In business, this attention to detail is just as important. When dealing with a client, you want to create a bond, a trust, an overall sense of concern for the client's well-being. Working with a client isn't just about completing a project and getting paid, but rather it is finding out about your client, their needs, their desires, making yourself an extension of them and their business. By paying attention to the little details, it shows your client that you are really listening (not just hearing) to what they are saying and that you genuinely care about delivering a top quality product that will fulfill their needs.

So whether you're looking at personal relationships or project management, remember...

"Excellence is in the details. Give attention to the details and excellence will come." (Perry Paxton)

With A Little Help From My Friends

Driving around this long weekend, taking in the beautiful weather, and enjoying a much needed rest from work, Joe Cocker's cover of The Beatles hit, "With A Little Help From My Friends" comes on the radio, and while my first thought was of the television show "The Wonder Years", my second thought was , I wonder if they were thinking about Project Management when they wrote this song. Let me explain...

Lately I've been finding work to be extremely stressful, with high client demands, short timelines, and simply not enough time in the day to accomplish all the tasks at hand. And while this all sounds like a typical day in the life of a Project Manager, lately, I've been finding it particularly difficult to get through while continuing to maintain some level of sanity. In fact, these past couple of weeks, the stress has gotten so great, that I've been questioned by friends, as to why I don't simply quit, to which I look at them with a smile and simply say "because of my coworkers".

I've worked in many different types of positions, industries, places... all of them with a great group of people, but never have I worked somewhere with such a strong support group as the one I feel in my current company, which has led me to discover a key component of Project Management, your support group. While knowledge and experience are certainly important factors in being a good Project Manager, I feel that a solid support team is that third piece, the one that makes you a great Project Manager. As mentioned earlier, Project Management, in it's very nature is an extremely stressful job, one filled with irritable clients, tight deadlines, and large deliverables (sounds great, I know!), which is why finding a group of people that support you and truly care for you, is so important. Having a team of people ready to stay a little later to fix up a graphic or tweak a database, to take a final look at a project before it goes to the client, or simply to act as a sounding board when you just need a break, is what changes the life expectancy of a Project Manager from 1 year to 5 or 10 years.

If I could give one piece of advice to any new Project Managers out there, it would be to choose your environment carefully, as it has the ability to make the next couple of years in your career either a curse or a blessing. And as I approach my 2-year anniversary at my current company (this Friday!), I've realized how important the people around you can be. So to all of you out there reading this blog....

THANK YOU!