Why project managers must learn to lead

Hey there, and welcome to the Minimum Viable Project.

Jasper here - I hope you're having a nice holiday break. I've been home to celebrate with my family in the Netherlands, and I'll spend the last few days skiing here in Norway.

But an easy week does not mean I skip the newsletter. In fact, with a record 904 new subscribers, there's never been a better time to bring up today's topic.

First things first: I made a rookie mistake last week. After testing & running through my publishing checklist, I made a few small tweaks. The result? A dead link.

I promised you a link to the presentation framework I learned while working with McKinsey. Here you go - I swear the link works this time!

Today, I want to plant a seed.

No big how-to, but something to chew on.

I recently said on Twitter that you manage work, but you lead people. Judging by the 100s of reactions, it resonated with people.

But what do I mean by that?

Leadership and management are two very different things.

One is not better than the other.

Imagine a sliding scale. Leadership on the left, and management on the right.

Everyone is on that sliding scale, and the most successful people are able to move along that scale depending on the situation. Some situations ask for leadership, while other challenges require management skills.

It's time to zoom out

The holidays put me in a reflective mood last week, and I wrote a very personal Twitter thread about an important part of my personal story.

TL;DR: I was too focused on managing, got stuck with the project team, and was served an enormous slice of humble pie. You can read the full story here.

That event put me on the journey I'm still on today: combining leadership with project management.

If you look back at what worked and what didn't in 2022, picture yourself on that sliding scale. Now go back to a few big successes and tough team situations this year.

If you're anything like me, you'll find that you tried to solve some team issues with technical management skills.

At the same time, a budget won't create itself by sharing your "Why" with Excel.

Why this matters

I'm known for mocking Gantt charts sometimes. Let me explain.

I have nothing against Gantt charts. In fact, I think they're a very powerful tool.

But they're just that, a tool.

I have nothing against Gantt charts, but I have a lot against the pedestal they're on.

Project management courses, certifications & training are too much about the technicalities, the tools, and the tactics. But when sh*t hits the fan, no Gantt chart is going to save you - you need a team.

And that is why leadership matters.

What's next?

In 2023, we'll be digging deep into what leadership is and how you develop it. What it takes to complement your project management skills. I'll mix these up with crucial project management topics, to make sure we keep a healthy balance of project management & leadership.

If you can't wait to get started, here's something to try:

Leadership starts with you: personal leadership.

People follow people, and mimicking is a powerful concept. The next time you see a team member does something you're not thrilled by, look in the mirror. Are you actively demonstrating the behavior you'd like to see instead? Chances are, you've got room for improvement.

I'll leave you with a leadership quote I think about often. It touches the core of why a "Why" is so important, and it invites you to lead by example. Because what's even more powerful than teaching them to long for the endless immensity of the sea?

Showing it.

In closing

2022 has been a wild year, and it's crazy to think that we're with 6,302 project leaders as of writing today. This started as an experiment just 12 short weeks ago, and I've been learning every step along the way.

I have some big plans for 2023, and you'll be the first one to know. To kick things off, the newsletter will get a slightly different look in January, something I'm very excited about.

One final thing: thank you. Thank you for giving me a sliver of your attention in 2022. It's something I don't take lightly, and I'll give it my all to continue delivering value in 2023.

That'll do for this week, and for this year - until next Tuesday!

Cheers,Jasper