Project Leadership Personalities
The leadership personalities that best run projects
change as a project progresses. This is not a unique concept; it can be
seen in startups as an entrepreneur has different personality,
skills, and temperament than a person running an established business.
Let's take a quick look at the two personalities, how
they lead projects, and when a change in project leadership style might
be needed.
The principle concerns of the project startup leader (or
"opener") are requirements, technology selection, design, team building,
stakeholder buy in, and getting momentum on the project. These folks are
entrepreneurs who have to convince a lot of people to buy into many
decisions. Their style is often 80% leader and 20% manager. They lead
the way and break the ground needed to get things going. They often have
to take a lot of shortcuts and risks, as often their customers and
stakeholders want answers before they are available.
The "project closer" is a detail oriented and focused
person that is often uncomfortable with what they view as the "arm
waving" that the "opener" showed. These folks are often 20% leader and
80% manager. They are focused on the end game, and are unflappable in
their pursuit of the finished project.
Projects need both of these styles. Many technology
startups begin with a "hot technology" that an entrepreneurial
leader starts, but if the switch to a "project closer" comes too late,
the project can fail.
A top 10 list of indications its time to review your
project leader:
 |
"We've been 3 months from complete for over six
months…" |
|
"The requirements? …can't keep them straight… they
change all the time" |
|
"A plan? we just do that to keep management happy…" |
|
"The bug/punch list? It's here on my computer
somewhere" |
|
"No problem, we'll figure out how to test it when the
code is almost done" |
|
"Yes, there are some people in this plan we haven't
hired yet…" |
|
"We can finish late… it really doesn't matter anyway" |
|
"We need to finish on time, so there will be quite a
few bugs to find and fix later" |
|
"Sure we have a plan; we just haven't updated it for a
couple of months" |
|
"Not a problem, we'll just hire/contract someone to do
that" |
If you have some other famous lines, please send them to
me!
Incidentally, starting a project with a leader that is a
"project closer" is just as dangerous as trying to finish one with an
"opener"… the risk is that the project will stumble over too many
roadblocks, not have the excitement, and never gain momentum.
