Project Manager One on Ones - Part 1

Submitted by mauzenne on Mon, 05/25/2009 - 06:18.
in

This cast explains the basics of how to have One on Ones with project team members who do not report to you.

Yes, you can have one on ones in a matrix organization. They work wonderfully.  One reason is that matrix orgs reduce communication while increasing the amount of chatter, and One on Ones directly improve communication.  While we recommend One on Ones virtually exclusively for manager-team member relationships, the Project Manager-team member relationship has become important enough, and common enough, to justify this additional meeting.  [Again: we don’t recommend we try to create One on Ones with our boss.  We do that with our Professional Update.]


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ccarsten's picture
Submitted by ccarsten on Fri, 06/12/2009 - 20:40.

Project manager One on Ones - with the boss?

Hello Mike and Mark -

again a very good and helpful show, as so many - thank you for all of them!

It left me with one question though. I know, and agree with, your recommendation against directs initiating one on ones with the boss. Can you provide any guidance for a situation when a direct is a project manager of a particular project, and her boss is one of the team leads of that project? This effectively creates a spiral situation, where PM O3s still make sense, but it could then lead to the direct creating the O3.

Any recommendations on how to solve the dilemma? Giving up PM O3s is far too much the easy way out, and not the preference by any means, so there must be some other path.

I need to add that I have only been able to listen to part 1 of the show so far, as my iPod crashed and burned on me. Should part 2 include an answer, I will be happy to be referred to that and get my player fixed / replaced sooner rather than later.

Best regards,

Christoph

US101's picture
Submitted by US101 on Sat, 07/04/2009 - 01:05.

Star Trek Project Mgr.

For those curious to learn more about the Wesley Crusher rule, you can rent the Star Trek episode Mark refers to from Netflix. It's Season 2: Disc 4. The episode is called "Pen Pals." Besides being a good example of a project manager dealing with pushback, it's also a good example of coaching from No. 1 to Wesley. Also, it's a good example of a succession planning discussion amongst a senior leadership team.

 

billramo's picture
Submitted by billramo on Wed, 07/08/2009 - 02:47.

PM O3s in the Agile Development Shop

One of the methods we are using with our development teams is the "Daily Standup" meeting. It's a 15 minute meeting where everyone contributing to the project states what they did the prior day, what the play to do today, and are there any blocking issues. The team is encouraged to jump in on unblocking any issues with time at the end for parking lot items that are too bug to solve within 1 minute. How would the weekly PM O3 add more value in this world? 

Thanx, Bill Ramos

jdalessa's picture
Submitted by jdalessa on Wed, 07/08/2009 - 17:13.

E-mail

You mention body copy for an e-mail to project team members in your cast.  Is that located somewhere on MT.com?

Regards