Project Management Excellence



Excellence in Project Management

By: Thomas Rhoads

What is it that truly distinguishes excellence in project management? How do project managers who consistently produce good results rise above base level proficiency to serve as “champions” for the projects they lead? What insights or “tools” are essential to create being a project management “champion” in a way that fosters sustainability and continued growth for a team or organization?

Project management in many professions is a career aspiration and viewed as a gateway to senior level executive opportunity. Project management has long been vital to driving business results. The principles of project management are incorporated in academic curriculum, numerous books and resource publications are available, and a professional organization, the Project Management Institute, has done much to advance the discipline. Many organizations and individuals invest heavily in training to augment their proficiency with certifications, degrees, and formalized project management mentoring programs. In some organizations, professionals step into the role of project management much like being “thrown into the deep end.” While necessity can be a great motivator, training generally results in a grateful and more confident employee, increased profitability, happier stakeholders, and a more sustainable enterprise. There are, nevertheless, many degreed, certified, mentored, and seasoned project managers who do not produce consistent results. Which begs the question of why? What dynamics are present that may cause that? Some are “burnt-out” while others share a sense of being “overwhelmed.” These same project managers often then source conflict or concern among project team members and the organizations they represent. Sometimes knowingly and often times not so knowingly. It leaves one to ask “is it possible that something may be missing in current training, mentoring, or certification programs that could mitigate the risk and costs of this? What can be done to achieve or regain the “excellence” part of project management?” The answers to these questions are particularly relevant when considering that the growth and the profitability of an organization are at stake. Readily available resources rarely ever provide guidance for the “well being” of a project manager who seemingly has lost their way or to reverse the potentially destructive ripple effect, or costs, often imparted on an organization’s internal and external stakeholders.

Excellence in project management is not simply achieved through mastering sound work breakdown structure, project set up, or the inextricably integral relationship of scope-budget–schedule. Important as they are (as well as the other tools within the project management discipline) some necessary keys for excellence in project management are elusively outside of conventional project management training, theory or study.

The role of thinking as it relates to excellence is a critical component to consider. Unless the thinking being applied is clearly distinguished and new tools are incorporated by project managers, consistent levels of excellence will remain problematic.

Two drivers of excellence in project management are those of intention and accountability. They are also vital tenets of powerful leadership in any role. Distinguishing intention and accountability, and teaching these key tenets, is typically not found in conventional project management curriculum, credentialing, or training. When intention and accountability are brought to a higher level of awareness and ownership it causes the action of embracing the continuous learning process. True “excellence” requires project managers to take on their relationship to themselves and a willingness to be open to looking at the automatic way they may get while being with others, within a conflict, change, or any of the very real circumstances present in the world of work. The operative word is “excellence.” Herein is the first reality-check, or what appears to be very real to project managers. Many project managers are so absorbed and so busy, for example, multi-tasking across multiple assignments, within the details of administrative requirements, reacting to delays or changing requests, etc., that they are not fully present to their own intention let alone the intention of those they lead. True accountability does not include defensive rationalizations, justifications, or rigid thinking.

As we know intention is no longer a secret and has been written about extensively in many well known publications such as the best selling book by Jim Collins “Good to Great” (Collins focuses on a ‘strong will’) or Dr. Wayne Dyers’ much fuller body of work on “The Power of Intention.” Often though, reading about intention alone may produce little change in individuals or organizations, it requires going a bit deeper and requires action. Putting intention to work may call for a shift in thinking along with a new set of actions that could be outside of who or how a project manager has known themselves to be. Before any intention even has a chance of taking hold, project managers may need to confront, at a deep level within themselves, the natural resistance that is part of human nature to being authentic. When intention is present things take on an automatic nature or energy. The focus is on the mission or the project and there is no more “trying” and the internal language (i.e., self-talk) and expressions with others shift to intentional dialogue and actions. “Shall” replaces “try to”; struggling and effort are replaced by momentum, energy and extraordinary results. Interestingly enough intention is a choice, or a way of being about things. It is not an item to simply be crossed off the checklist.

The “excellence” of project management truly takes hold through accountability and a commitment to a continuous learning process. Being accountable for results produced (and not produced) as well as holding others to account advances a project manager’s performance. Accountability may be initially perceived to feel uncomfortable for many project managers. The reality is being truly accountable and intentional for all aspects of a project, including how one relates, interacts or reacts can feel great. But not for everyone who is in the project management role.

Excellence in project management is rarely ever achieved as a “theme of the month” undertaking, moreover it is an ongoing way of how a project manager holds things within their own thinking that can strengthen and inspire. Through coaching, perseverance, and standing for the value that can be obtained through intention and accountability, there are sustainable levels of learning, growth, and breakthrough results made possible. Once intention and accountability are distinguished, taught and recognized as vital keys to “excellence”, the next step is equally important. Evoking an authentic commitment to being open to mastering leadership must be achieved. Once at that crossroad it is then that the powerful combination of intention and accountability will begin to demonstrate itself. Project managers will then cause higher and new levels of performance and satisfaction in their ability to lead. In addition they will find a new level of control over projects, an ability to cause a culture of accomplishment, and will add greater value for themselves and those around them with ease. Take time to reflect upon and to consider what would be possible for your organization that is not possible now if across the board everyone involved in the project management process was operating at true level of “excellence.”

Causing intention and managing accountability of project teams and the other core competencies of project management and effective leadership are described through articles, blog and newsletters from Innovational Services.

For further information on Excellence in Project Management, Leadership Development or Career Transition contact Thomas Rhoads at TRhoads@

Thomas Rhoads is an effective executive career consultant with Innovational Services leading clients through the exploration of their innate abilities, passions and goals while providing executive coaching to unlock potential and cause breakthrough results in career transition and development. Tom also provides ongoing resources for clients of Innovational Services as they move into new endeavors providing leadership development programs offered through individual and corporate executive coaching programs and through our “University Series.” Bringing nearly 25 years experience in a career that has spanned accountabilities for technical consulting, project management, key account development, and as an entrepreneur and business owner. Tom has vast experience working with nearly every facet of the manufacturing industry and a broad range of service industries. He has enjoyed long-term relationships as a trusted advisor to large corporate clients such as Exxon, Harley Davidson, Xerox, IBM, Mead Paper, John Deere, General Motors, Pepperidge Farm, and General Electric. Tom founded and served as President of an environmental consulting company, served as Vice President and a Director for an integrated architecture, engineering, construction management and information technology firm. His experience spans across the United States and he has provided advice to many multi-national corporations. He began his career in environmental policy research at Duke University and served as a Principal Investigator and Program Manager providing consulting expertise for the US Forest Service, the US Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Defense, and several states agencies. Tom is active in a wide range of professional and service organizations on a national and local basis. Tom has co-founded environmental and educational non-profit organizations and has held leadership roles and is an active volunteer within faith-based organizations including the United Church of Christ, The United Methodist Church, Good Works, and Josephs People. He has joined the Chester County, PA Workforce Investment Board and is an advisor to Franklin and Marshall College. The silver thread throughout Tom’s career has been his enthusiasm toward mentoring, coaching and leadership development as he has consistently served as a champion for individual and organizational improvement. His background, experience and innovation provide a unique perspective for clients of Innovational Services His passion for contributing to individuals coupled with his strategic thinking and implementation competencies are complimentary to the extraordinary team of individuals that comprise Innovational Services.

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