The PM Pivot - #11: Staying Disciplined

A February of Gratitude

I'm swamped with tasks this month. There's so much to do and so little time. There are new opportunities and commitments everywhere. Through it all, I find myself extremely grateful for all my connections and friends. You have made my endeavors worthwhile, and I'm humbled to be able to do/write/say things that you find valuable. Thank you for staying connected with me; it's a blessing to interact, help, and be helped in turn.

Discipline: A Key Virtue for PMs

I think a lot about the tools for success in project management. Something that I believe strongly is that discipline is a key virtue for project managers in any environment. You need to be able to make a plan, put it in action, and stick with it. This doesn't mean being inflexible, but it does mean following through. Your project, your stakeholders, and your team will all rely on you to follow through on your intended course of action. Failure to follow through will erode trust and likely leave your project behind on schedule, budget, or other critical things.

Like all virtues, discipline must be practiced regularly to be wielded effectively. Project management begins at home! What are your goals and plans? Can you follow through for yourself? For your family? For your friends? If you struggle in this area, you should start small and build up the discipline muscle.

Remember, discipline takes many different forms: arriving on time to meetings and other engagements, keeping yourself on task for deliverables, and even regulating yourself on things you enjoy. Everybody has additional improvements to make, so don't feel bad about having to practice this. The goal is to make a little progress every day.

Discipline is also key for a career pivot. You need to budget your resources: time, energy, and focus. It sometimes takes more discipline to stick to your budget without devoting too many resources. We live in a "more is better" world, and it's easy to fall into the trap of over-spending yourself when it comes to achieving a big goal like a career change. But discipline is following the plan, not doing more. Keep yourself fresh. Enjoy your time off and work hard when it's time to work!

Like so many things in life, discipline is a matter of balance. As you build yourself up, you'll strike a better, healthier balance. And you'll be better prepared to reach for your goals, whether it's a job search or moving your next project forward.

February's Monthly Live Event

Don't forget to join me and Carly S. , a librarian-turned-PM, consultant, and author of the book,?Project Management in Libraries on 2/23. We'll be talking about her career path, PM in unusual fields (like libraries), how we celebrate project success, and answering your questions!

Click here?to attend the event. If you can't make the show live, click "Attend" and watch the recording on your schedule!

Thanks for Reading

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