RECENT LESSONS LEARNT ... AGAIN #1

​Mis read personalities to the project’s detriment.

A series of blogs of lessons learnt or re learnt from a recent project, after all we all have room and need to keep learning!

EXPLANATION

I screwed up. 

I assumed a stakeholder thought and would act the same as me.  After all my ways best isn’t it! 

Oh, how I screwed up, of course it is for me, but now I understand it's not for everyone. Assuming this ended up with walls being built and a communication breakdown as both parties didn’t understand what each other needed. 

This stakeholder’s area of responsibility on the project was the one area that was not as successful as the rest.  Not because they are not good, but because I couldn’t integrate them into the project with a way of communication they could appreciate and work with. 

​The project almost and did risk, losing a lot of money because of it.

SYNOPSIS

Everyone has a fall-back personality; they are described in different ways by people far cleverer than me.  In my simple head they can be summed up as direct, detailed, emotional, and helpful.  We all have these qualities, but we all have a leaning to one more than the other.  

You can’t fully override your main personality, especially when under stress.   You are generally under more stress at work than in any other environment and here your personality types come to the fore more.

LEARNING

Really get to understand the personalities you are working with early on.   Accept that they are different and use them to your advantage.  Work with them and try and communicate in a way that they can appreciate, especially when they are under stress.  You will get the best out of them, they will work better with you, get the best out of them and the project. 

Even if they are really, frustrating!

​Thanks for reading
 
Simon