16.1 A Day in the Life

< Day Day Up >

Whenever I look back at past projects and compress those six to eighteen month spectacles into a single day, I am always struck by the bipolar nature of the job. At times I felt omnipotent. I was so busy setting direction, hiring and firing, dueling with the client, pushing back when someone yanked my chain, chastising some vendor, or doling out project dollars to curry favor or pacify the restless. On other occasions, I have been reminded of the intermittent powerlessness of the job, like when a boss stepped in to grab the helm, ^[1] the customer ran roughshod over me or the team, or some other ill wind blew through my office.

There have been times when being passive seemed appropriate. Other times, I had to drive the team toward success, or I had to solve a problem that did not belong to me but loomed nonetheless as a certain showstopper. Then, I had to contend with all the scut work. I have typed so many spreadsheets, documents, and project plans that at times I felt overpaid for those countless hours spent on administrative duties.

I have sat alone in a room full of hostile customers and negotiated a solution to an obstacle they might possibly have concocted. I was not always sure I was empowered to make the commitments I did to escape these meetings unscathed or that I could make good on those promises with the resources at my disposal. And, of course, those pithy moments always happen, like when a project activity rendered the personal computer (PC) belonging to the executive vice president's assistant inoperable minutes before her boss needed a printout of two dozen color transparencies someone spent weeks concocting for the board meeting.

Overall, I have faired well. At the very least, I have learned from my mistakes and have managed to avoid repeating most of the ill-fated stunts I have seen other project managers try out of desperation or for possibly less wholesome purposes. Reflecting on all this, it appears that the job calls for:

A curious blend of toughness and wisdom
The ability to swiftly shift gears, and the intelligence to know when to do so
At least enough political smarts to stop leading with one's chin

None of these traits, at least in proper combination, sound typical of the average corporate soldier, but instead sound like something that comes from experience and the willingness to grow through honest self-appraisal. Things always look different in the rear view mirror, so it is a good exercise if you learn those lessons and move forward. Therefore, before I lead this discussion into psychological nonsense, I think we would all be better served by refocusing on the deliberate behavior model.

^[1]Sometimes behind my back!

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