Project Management as a Mindset

A Project = Improvement of Daily Work

Before delving into the role of a project manager or even the very technical definition of a project manager, let us start by defining what a project is. A project is simply moving from point A to point B to solve a problem or improve an existing situation. As an example, renovating your living room is a project ??

However, it is important to remember that each project is different because there are as many starting points (A) and endpoints (B) as there are projects. If there is an infinite range of projects, it is simply because the people impacted or involved, the overall environment, context, and objectives are specific to each project. Project management must therefore constantly adapt to these criteria and specifics rather than imposing a rigid way of proceeding solely because it worked for another ??similar?? project. In short, what works well for one project will not necessarily work for another.

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Combining Methodology, Collaboration, and Ownership

Successful project management relies on a subtle combination of proven methodologies, carefully tailored to the goals and nature of the project, as well as the company culture and team specifics. The key lies in the ability to leverage existing tools, processes, and methods, adjusting them to ensure smooth communication and seamless workflows.

Why is this so important? Because at the heart of every project are people. People with unique skills, specific mindsets, and working in a professional environment guided by shared values and principles. For a project to reach its full potential, stakeholders must fully embrace the implemented solution. This ownership can only occur if the work framework—whether tools or processes—is not only well understood but also leading to trust and open communication.

This is where the project manager comes in, acting as the orchestrator of this structured framework. Their role is not limited to defining objectives or managing deadlines: they also ensure that working conditions promote transparency and sharing. By acting as a facilitator, they create the foundations for harmonious collaboration and collective engagement, two essential elements for project success.

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Facilitator of Evolution and Decision Partner

A project manager adopts an approach of adapting to the existing environment, prioritizing what is familiar and functional for teams. Rather than disrupting established practices, they seek to enrich them by relying on past experience, identifying solutions and improvements tailored to maximize success. This is a strategy of progressive evolution, subtle yet strategic, which values continuity while introducing relevant adjustments. A subtle mix between a chameleon and a Swiss knife ??

The role of the project manager is not to impose changes but to suggest them in an informed manner, providing all necessary information to enable shared and collective decisions. These decisions, crucial to project success, are made at different levels depending on the initiative's scale and scope: they may come from C-level executives or end-users, with each actor playing a key role in the project's construction and ownership.

The Project Manager: Mediator and Collaboration Catalyst

The project manager plays a key role as a facilitator, ensuring that all levels within the organization are consulted and involved in finding the optimal solution. Acting as a true intermediary, they function as a "middle manager," serving as a link between strategic leadership and operational staff. This dual understanding of managerial and field perspectives allows them to reconcile approaches and foster constructive dialogue between departments, experts, or profiles that may have little in common or contact. The project manager also uses their skills to facilitate more vertical discussions between different hierarchical levels with differing expectations or project realities.

Thanks to this role, every project participant feels involved and finds their place in its progress. Each person contributes according to their skills, abilities, and scope of influence, thus reinforcing collective momentum. The ultimate goal is to achieve active buy-in from all stakeholders, transforming them into true project ambassadors. This mobilization process generates a positive ripple effect, facilitating smooth and natural adoption of the developing solution.

Change Management: A Key Step in Successful Project Transition

Here, we address a fundamental dimension of any project: change management. Moving from point A to point B necessarily involves overcoming steps or obstacles. However, by nature, humans tend to avoid or bypass difficulties. It is therefore crucial to make these transitions as smooth as possible, minimizing the effort required to achieve them.

From the moment the idea of a project emerges, it is essential to confront it with the realities of the field and the needs of the people involved, whether leaders or operational staff. This early confrontation fosters a shared understanding of challenges and better preparation for hurdles. Throughout the solution's development, maintaining transparent communication with all stakeholders is essential. This allows for pragmatic and concrete anticipation and overcoming of obstacles while ensuring gradual and effective adaptation at each project stage.

Conclusion

Effective project management relies on three fundamental pillars:

1. Leveraging what already exists: Taking advantage of existing tools, processes, and practices builds on a solid foundation while minimizing initial resistance.
2. Continuous adaptation: Project development is rarely linear; it requires constant flexibility to adjust to conditions and unforeseen challenges that arise along the way.
3. Transparent and tailored communication: At all levels of the company, communication is essential to gain stakeholder buy-in and fully involve those directly or indirectly impacted by the new solution.

For a project manager, the ultimate goal is to transform this solution into their solution—one that precisely meets their needs and is naturally embraced—rather than a proposal that might be perceived as external or imposed.

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