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Soft Tools in Project Management08/04/2010Bors Gábor, PMP
• Management requires formal authority!
… or does it?
• The soft way – three basic tools
• … and still doing it efficiently!
Three key highlights
Formal authority – how much do we need?
VS
• Efficient on short term• Easy to do• Easy to overuse• Non-motivational• Inefficient in the long term
• Takes more time• Requires a thoughtful approach• Tends to become a habit• Trust and empowerment• Too much flexibility may backfire!
… and there’s hardly anything you can’t get done informally!
The soft way – three basic tools
• Who needs information?
– Get the information to everybody who needs it
– Pay attention to level of detail and format foreach target group
• Keep your friends close, and your enemiescloser
– Know the people – it makes it easier tomotivate and / or influence them
– Select the right time for asking, requestingor even telling news
• Nobody likes to lose
– Always try to reach a consensus or a goodcompromise
– Avoid situations where a party all-out loses
The soft way – and still being efficient
• When “soft” isn’t the preferred toolset
– Under extreme time pressure
– With determined uncooperative people
• Don’t overdo it – you’re still the boss
– Delegate heavily
– Be strict when facing non-delivery
• Consensus under control
– Consensus can be extremely time-consuming
– Slight sacrifices are often more efficient
• Tailor communication to an extent only
– Only two or three tiers in writing
– Choose your regular verbal “targets” carefully
The bottom line
• Informal influence can be as powerful as formal authority
• The three basic tools
– Information distribution done right
– Know the people you work with – and ALWAYS use this knowledge!
– Let people win – even small victories count!
• Soft methods are often time consuming – always keep an eye on efficiency!
Thank you for your kind attention!