Project Managers: Old and New

It is difficult to get rid of the “old” and traditional styles of the project manager. The ghosts of these styles still lingers and lives among us, mere mortals. Sometimes, it is almost impossible to know when you are managing using the archaic models or the new ones that have been proven much more effective. Sometimes, the old style masquerades as a new style. Take for example, someone who sits in the computer, use the latest software and continue to fiddle and tweak a project timetable, budgets or resource allocations without the support of anyone specially from the stakeholders. This is an old style with a new mask. Why? The new style is active. The manager is constantly consulting, facilitating, searching, empowering, consolidating, advising, listening, building shared visions, forming consensus and affirming teamwork and team achievements. The secret is really in working with people. Let us get rid of the old style. Let us work together and participate.