What Do You Do When You Feel Trapped In Your Career? Help a Project Manager Out! (#HAPMO, Mid-June 2019)
Andy Kaufman
Project Management & Leadership Keynote Speaker, Author, & Coach, Podcast Host. We help you learn how to lead & deliver.
LinkedIn is a community that allows unparalleled access to each other for learning, inspiration, and help. I am continually inspired by those of us who regularly engage here. I learn on a daily basis, which makes me want to give back even more. And I know many of you feel the same way.
Help a Project Manager Out! (#HAPMO) is a pro bono initiative designed to help everyone who has an interest or passion for delivering projects. It doesn't matter what your title or industry is. It doesn't matter if you are currently leading projects or hope to do so someday.
There's a community of professionals here who want to help.
Here's How It Works
Twice a month I post an article that looks very similar to this. Typically it is mid-month and start of a new month.
Start Here
???????? Include the hashtag #hapmo on your posts that are relevant to people leading and directing projects. Our global following will see your posts in their feed, which can lead to more engagement with your posts.
???????? Follow the #hapmo hashtag on LinkedIn. Instead of relying on LinkedIn’s algorithm, you can make sure that helpful PM-related posts are included in your feed. Comment on posts to share your insights, which will Help a Project Manager Out!
Are you leading a project and looking for some insights? Leave a comment with your question or situation. Some of the top project thinkers from around the world might just share their thoughts.
Are you a hiring manager or recruiter looking for project related pros? Keep an eye on the comments. The person you're looking for might just be there.
Want to expand your network? Watch for the people who engage here and reach out to them. Connect and start engaging with them. If you and I are not already connected, let's fix that! Connect with me here: Andy Kaufman. And connect with others you see who interact in the comments.
When You’re Feeling Trapped
Earlier this year I sat with a leader who talked about her career situation. She has a good track record of delivering initiatives across her career. Her current employer is a Fortune 100 company with a generally positive reputation.
But if you listened to my discussion with Marcus Buckingham in episode 252, you may recall this finding from his research:
A company can have a world-class reputation but if you’re on a significantly dysfunctional team, you want out.
In this case, the person across from me described her situation like this:
- Limited direction leading to ambiguity about roles and responsibilities
- Far more accusations from the boss than encouragement
- Co-workers who seem more interested in building their own kingdoms than collaborating
- That sinking “I feel like calling in sick” feeling that creeps in like a toxic fog on Sunday evenings, just thinking about going to work on Monday
So that’s bad.
But what if you’re at an age that risks discrimination (it’s real). And what if the current pay and benefits are good—really good, as in, hard to find elsewhere. And what if taking a pay cut doesn’t seem feasible because of your current expenses.
Life is short. Life has expenses. Life is getting sucked out of you. But options seem few.
The result?
Feeling trapped.
Maybe you’ve been there. Maybe you are there. If not, you easily could be someday.
???????? Your Thoughts? ????????
?? What questions come to mind that could help your colleague think through her situation? What advice might you share? Of course, we risk coming up with easy solutions to a more complex situation.
???????? But come on, folks. Let's Help a Project Manager Out! ???????? Start by posting your comments, and questions below.
And help get the word out by giving it a Like and sharing this with your colleagues. Thanks!
Marketing Project Manager & Administrator at Kenvue | Chief Organizer | Walk in nature ??
5 年On a recent date with a guy, he recommended that I study Agile project management. He’s 49 and has been an Agile coach for many many years. He told me that it would get me hired pretty quickly. (I live in Cape Town in South Africa). I don’t see any jobs posted for Agile PMs. What do you think about Agile PM and do you think I should study it? Please share your thoughts below.??
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5 年#hapmo?- I've heard this scenario often and also experienced it as well myself.? I liken it to the crying baby situation.? When a baby is very fussy it's often during a growth spurt.? Instead of seeing the discomfort as a negative - if you can view it through the lens of you're growing, changing, and learning, it makes it a more positive experience and easier to ferret out the emerging opportunities.? For example,? on my team,? we have an acronym called "FUEL" - that was developed during a time of upheaval and discomfort.? ? It helped us get over that hump and we all learned a ton in the process - if we hadn't gone through that time together, we would not have come out stronger and better.? FUEL means - friendliness, understanding, empathy and learning - it FUELS our growth together as a team.? ?Instead of seeing it as a time to "breakup" - look at it as a time to dive in.? But also be firm on what success looks like to you.? Many times it's just not a great time to be looking for another job - your family needs the stability of where you are because they are going through their own significant changes, you have kids just about ready to launch, parents who are transitioning into a new life situation, etc.? And you just have to suck it up and deal.? If you don't like your view you can either change your seat (get a new job) or change your attitude - FUEL is what you can do when an attitude adjustment would better serve your current life circumstances.? ?It's also NEVER about the other people or the situation - it's about how you are perceiving and reacting to it.? Whenever I commit 100% to own the experiences I am having, life changes in some pretty remarkable ways for the better.??
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5 年So great to read this article by chance,while really good and interesting,i really feel you sincerity as you stated on the top article"LinkedIn is a community that allows unparalleled access to each other for learning, inspiration, and help. I am continually inspired by those of us who regularly engage here. I learn on a daily basis,which makes me want to give back even more"? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? I can learn from different countries/cultures which makes me much wider vision and surely would like to share what i know and love,appreciated!
Environmental Health and Safety
5 年Really liked the article, it articulates some things I have experienced in the past...its not a fun place to be, as described. Hopefully some that have access to this and are in need of a change, can find their way to a better place.