Speak Your Mind - The Importance of Effective Communication

Effective communication among all project team members is essential for a project’s success. How you communicate with different stakeholders is of equal importance to what you communicate and can influence how your message is interpreted. The following is the instructions for my assignment.

To prepare for this assignment, view the multimedia program "The Art of Effective Communication." In this program, observe a piece of communication in three different modalities: as written text, as audio, and as video. Pause after receiving the communication in each modality, and reflect upon what you interpret the message to mean. Think about the content and tone of the message. Record your interpretation of the message after receiving it in each modality. (Blog Assignment, 2015)

The Email:

This email seems to have a since of urgency added to it. Jane has a report due but since she hasn’t acquired some necessary data from Mark, she’s not able to complete her report. She states that she understands that he’s busy but would appreciate the requested material as soon as possible or a date/ time to expect it from him. . Mark seems to be ignoring Jane’s request which explains why the email has a forceful undertone.

The Voicemail:

Jane sounds calm on the voicemail. Although she needs the requested information from Mark, she’s not forceful with her request. She explains what her needs are and how the requested data affects her report but she is nice about it. She is respectful, yet she gets her point across.

Face to Face:

Jane expressed her concerns with the needed data from Mark but she wasn’t rude. She relayed her perspective and there was no urgency in her voice. She smiled at the end to let Mark know she wasn’t mad but she needed the data.

The key to successful project management is effective communication. Through communication, people exchange and share information with one another, and influence one another’s attitudes, behaviors, and understandings. (Portny, S. E., Mantel, S. J., Meredith, J. R., Shafer, S. M., Sutton, M. M., & Kramer, B. E., 2008) I think the manner in which you approach people is very important.  I think the manner in which you approach people is very important. You want to approach them with the utmost respect and along the same lines be approachable to your team.  Team members will be transparent with you no matter what if you display a professional and assisting attitude all the time.

Reference

Portny, S. E., Mantel, S. J., Meredith, J. R., Shafer, S. M., Sutton, M. M., & Kramer, B. E. (2008). Project management: Planning, scheduling, and controlling projects. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

www.Managementtrust.com

Excellent Project Managerial Skills

Wow, when we heard the news everyone was ecstatic!!! After years of request and proposals, the answer was finally yes! We will get a new simulation lab with all of the latest electrical/electronic equipment used for our classrooms. We will be able to effectively show our students how to troubleshoot and repair the actual equipment that they will be working on when they arrive at their place of work. The equipment is obsolete and the official word has come down that the entire agency will be getting a face lift. How exciting right!!! STOP! No one had any idea how much work was involved to complete this project successfully.

This was a long and difficult project which I thought was well planned. From the beginning, the project manager kept everyone informed of the phases and the process of the project. She was always communicating with team members and answered all questions. She was continuously at the various sites inquiring about the work and noting if there were any barriers or limitations that prevented work from being accomplished. She wanted everyone to stay on schedule and she expressed that fact at every meeting.

She kept a copy of the project plans on her at all times. She took notes and could tell the team members what the short term and long term plans were at any given moment which ensured all members were on the same page. Her strategy to complete this project was razor sharp. In contrast to strategies, objectives are results to be achieved through the performance of a project. Objectives may include the creation of products and services or the impact realized through the application of these products and services. Clear specific objectives are extremely useful, but project managers must also be able to update and refine objectives as a project progresses. (Portny, S. E., Mantel, S. J., Meredith, J. R., Shafer, S. M., Sutton, M. M., & Kramer, B. E., 2008).

Lastly, she had an excellent person in her corner, the project champion, the Contract Manager. Sometimes the best champion is one whose support is never called into service. Just knowing that this person supports a project helps others appreciate its importance and encourages others to work diligently to ensure its success. (p.15) She possessed the six attributes of a successful project manager which included the gift of foresight, they are organized, they know how to lead, are good communicators, they are pragmatic and empathetic. You’re the best Ms. Canning!

Reference

Portny, S. E., Mantel, S. J., Meredith, J. R., Shafer, S. M., Sutton, M. M., & Kramer, B. E. (2008). Project management: Planning, scheduling, and controlling projects. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

http://www.cio.com/article/2433916/project-management/six-attributes-of-successful-project-managers.html