Masonry Magazine February 2009 Page. 44
FULL CONTACT PROJECT MANAGEMENT
FULL CONTACT
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
By "Coach" Gary Micheloni
Are you Working Like a Dog?
January's column was all about your decision to do everything it takes to weather all the hope and the changes (some might call them storms) on our horizon. But the question is, "How?" Then I realized that it's doggone simple.
COACH GARY SAYS:
"Winning or losing this year is strictly up to you!"
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42 MASONRY
February 2009 www.masoncontractors.org
So simple that even a dog can recognize it. And, as if to prove the point, Olivia the Wonder Dog shows the way.
Here's why I appreciate what Coach Olivia has for us this time. (See the August 2008 issue of Masonry for her first lesson.)
During that first lesson, we saw these parallels: Golden Retrievers are born to retrieve, project managers exist to keep the project on track. An owner throws a ball, and the retriever instantly begins to fetch; a client throws a curve, and the PM instantly reacts - at least he should.
That's how the Wonder Dog always reacts. But she is also proactive. For instance, when she wants to play, she will bring her toy to me. As a matter of fact, she will persistently bring her toy to me. She never seems to tire of it and won't relent until I agree to play with her. The only way to avoid this is to go to a different room or put her outside.
As a PM, of course, we have to react when the client throws something our way. But sometimes we see an opportunity, a fleeting chance at something that our project wants or needs. And, we have to take action. Here's where Olivia's newest lesson comes in and makes an impact on our projects for 2009.
Three big lessons:
* Why is it that I would tolerate having a dog that only wants to play and fetch? The easiest answer is that I love my dog, and I realize that dogs are just that way. They don't want to play with people they don't like. So, I take it as a compliment.
COACH GARY SAYS:
"Wonder dogs are like guide dogs They show us the way."
* Why would our client agree to tolerate our constant, unending questions about what we are supposed to do? That's the way the relationship is. Right there in the project specs: If I have a question, I must put it into writing and the client is required to respond to it. I am not limited to how many questions I can ask. It depends on how much stuff the project runs into-stuff that is, apparently, not covered in the specs. Hey, it shows I'm taking an interest in his project.
* The client is not permitted to ignore us. He would do so at his own peril and his own cost. But, he won't ignore you if you always ask your question (RFI) in a professional manner with a good attitude and a smile.
Just as Olivia always reminds me that I have an obligation to pay attention to her every time she comes to me, the contract documents remind the client that he has a similar obligation and must pay attention to me every time.
COACH GARY SAYS:
"Sometimes we think that we have to be rocket scientists, when all we really have to do is be able to think about as deeply as a dog does."
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