{"id":10876,"date":"2012-12-03T08:58:34","date_gmt":"2012-12-03T15:58:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/svapm.org\/?p=10876"},"modified":"2012-10-25T09:02:57","modified_gmt":"2012-10-25T16:02:57","slug":"if-you-can-drive-you-can-understand-project-managing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/svapm.org\/?p=10876","title":{"rendered":"If you can drive, you can understand project managing."},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/div>\n
This is Laura Lee Rose, a business and life coach that specializes in professional development, time management, project management and work-life balance strategies. In my <\/em>GoTo Academy: Soft Skill Tools for the GoTo Professional<\/a> continuous online coaching series, I go into office etiquette on various real-world IT topics in detail.<\/em>
\nIf you are interested in more training in these areas, <\/em>please sign-up for the continuing online coaching series<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

If you know how to drive, you already understand project management. You may still not want to be a project manager, but at least you understand better their function and value. In fact, project management and defensive driving have much in common. Let’s look:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Road Expectations<\/strong><\/td>\nProject Management Equivalent<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Traffic patterns and traffic rules<\/td>\nProject ground rules, schedules, resources, budgets, etc<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
You cannot safely go faster than the car in front of your<\/td>\nCritical path analysis and task dependencies<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Everyone in your lane (even though they have a variety of destinations) really needs to be heading in the same direction<\/td>\nEveryone on your team (even though they may have different motives) need to be heading in the same direction.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Car\u2019s break lights are RED for a reason<\/td>\nRED FLAGS on a project mean slow down; stop; and re-evaluate.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Motorist pull over for emergency vehicles<\/td>\nProjects have recovery protocol charts and plans<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Motorists merge temporarily into another lane to get around an accident.<\/td>\nProject resources are temporarily redirected to past a blocking issue.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Traffic lights and signs are placed to control the traffic patterns and keep everyone in-synch and on time.<\/td>\nStatus reports and quality metrics are placed to keep everyone in-synch with the delivery schedule.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Motorists risk lives when they speed and ignore traffic rules.<\/td>\nEmployees risk the project schedule and create hostility in the team when they ignore the project rules.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Accidents and traffic tickets delay time to destination<\/td>\nDefects and morale issues delay project delivery schedules<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Optimal routes change depending upon road conditions, weather, traffic patterns, time of day traffic loads, and construction schedules.<\/td>\nProjects often deviate from the original route because of various contributing factors such as: resource allocations, equipment failure, outsource\/contract disputes, defects in components, scheduled maintenance and security upgrades, etc.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
General motorist courtesy: slower traffic stays right, left lane reserved for passing only, leave enough space when you change lanes (no cutting off people), allow people to merge into your lane, etc.<\/td>\nProject meetings have certain courtesy ground rules: No interruptions, allow everyone to speak their opinions, no arguing, allow the option to change direction (as long as the destination stays the same).<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Yield the right of way<\/td>\nAbide by the priority of the team goals (not just your own agenda).<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pedestrians have the right of way<\/td>\nKeep the client perspective in mind at all times. Project Managers need to also be a client advocate<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Motorists encounter detours because of unexpected road constructions \u2013 but their final destination is the same.<\/td>\nThe natural flow of a project will have some detours \u2013 but the final destination always stays the same.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Getting angry at the non-moving traffic doesn\u2019t make the traffic move any faster.<\/td>\nGetting upset at the lack of visible project progress isn\u2019t helping. Either take constructive action or be confident that things will eventually move along.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Road rage<\/td>\nSometimes there is road rage in the boardroom or office meeting. It\u2019s as dangerous in the office as it is on the streets.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Texting while driving may cause something to be missed and end up in a fatality.<\/td>\nTexting and multitasking in a project meeting will cause something to be missed and end in a delay in schedule.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bridges ice first<\/td>\nProject pieces not well grounded or rooted, are risky. That is why you have Risk Analysis and Risk Management as part of the project manager\u2019s toolbox.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Different cars handle differently on the road.<\/td>\nAll employees and resources are not the same. You need to handle them individually.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\"\"<\/a> Want more help? Setup a one-on-one chat session or email consult with LauraRose@RoseCoaching.info <\/a><\/div>\n
\n
Do you have what it takes to be a good project driver?<\/strong><\/div>\n
Take this online project driver test to find out….
\n\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This is Laura Lee Rose, a business and life coach that specializes in professional development, time management, project management and 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