This post applies to #projectmanagement but also could also well apply to almost anyone in any career.?It's also the perfect topic for a Monday morning: How do we stay consistent?
For many of us, work occupies about 1/4 of our life.?Sleeping occupies another 1/4.?Then there's everything else: Family, community, spirituality, entertainment, and the list goes on.?Life can be exhausting.?Some things we can control.?Some things we can't.
Your career has an almost unfair demand for consistency.?The way you work, do projects, manage, create and lead is your personal brand.?Your customers, no matter who they are or what business they're in, expect an almost inhuman level of service that's difficult to maintain.
It's kind of like when you're in a restaurant.?If you have a Reuben sandwich at your favorite restaurant and you really enjoy the experience, you expect to be able to go back another day and have the same experience when you order the same thing.?If you don't, it's horribly disappointing.?In order to be reliable to people in your organization, you have to be dependable.?What are some ways of doing that?
- Communications: Whether you're leading a project or an entire corporation, consistency in communications is important.?When people receive updates from you on what's going on at predictable intervals it gives them a sense of confidence.?It trickles down to the work and back out in the results of that work.?Provide regular updates to your organization on projects or tasks that affect them.
- Follow Ups: When I don't complete a task on time, I expect to receive a phone call from my manager asking why it's not complete and when it will be completed.?That hasn't happened at every juncture of my career but it's important if you're managing anything.?Accountability is key to ensuring that things stay on track in projects and organizations.?For some urgent items, I follow up daily until I get the answer I'm looking for - and never be afraid to escalate something you're not getting responses on to the next level.
- Getting it Done: Keep track of what you've committed to and make sure it actually happens.?This may seem basic but it build trust with stakeholders and is a big part of your personal brand that will help move your project, organization and career forward.?Trust leads to stronger relationships which helps the whole organization function.
- Recognize that not everyone is going to be constent all the time.?This goes back to the 75% of life that is not your career.?Things happen in life.?Over time, our bodies and minds don’t even work consistently when we want them to.?Maintaining your own consistency is hard and requires resourcefuness sometimes.?Be prepared to leverage tools including the help of others when necessary to keep things on track.?Reach out for resources when you need them.?The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results!
- Be Grateful.?I've emphasized this in some of my other posts however being grateful is a highly important part of my personal brand that I try never to forget.?It breeds strong relationships when we recognize the contributions of those around us.?Never forget to say "Thank you" for the contributions of your team.
- Give yourself a break!?We all ebb and flow in our motivation and energy levels.?At some point, we all experience overwhelming demands in life.??Be forgiving of yourself when you can't be consistent.?We are managers, not robots.?Recognize when you need extra help and make use of programs offered by your employer (Employee Assistance Plans) as well as community resources to stay level.?There is no point in being a martyr to your job.?Your health, both mental and physical, is what allows you to do any of this!
Matthew Evans?is a Project Manager in the Health Care Industry based in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada.?If you liked this article, please?Subscribe?to my newsletter and/or?Follow?my profile.?Have any making team members feel valued or on the newsletter??Join the conversation below!
