It has been a while since a really good Drive By Project Management moment presented itself. Yesterday’s game between the BC Lions and Winnipeg Blue Bombers provided a real life project management lesson for a series of Drive By Project Management moments.
The lessons as follows and both teams deserve credit for supplying the fodder:
- La Police and the coaching team. ‘What the heck where you thinking?” Brink did an okay job yesterday. I know the Big Blue was leading at the half but …. Do you really think it is fair to leave a team member that was obviously struggling at the helm until the crowd is humiliating him by calling for his replacement? Was the thought that a little public humiliation is a great motivator? The lesson is when you are at 3 and 10, a little risk mitigation is in order. Make decisions more quickly. Remember, every decision you make is a good decision with the knowledge, skills and experience that you had the minute that you made the decision. Just decide.
- Davis Sanchez, the man who just didn’t know when to zip his lip and walk away. The man cost his team big time. It is entirely possible that his poor sportsmanship like behaviour cost his team the win that they were chasing. He racked up 25 yards in penalties that contributed greatly to the loss for the BC Lions. Any team member that puts the team in jeopardy should be given the football equivalent of KP. I’ll bet there isn’t enough potatoes to peel that would teach this player a lesson. The lesson is your behaviour impacts your team not just you. Make your personal decisions so that your team can benefit instead of being penalized. FYI, some of us can lip read so you might want to edit the output.
- Khalif Mitchell, the man who should be sent to home for the rest of the season for his bad behaviour. He was ejected from the game for sucker punching a Winnipeg player. Outside the stadium, this would be considered assault. But, it is after all football. By reacting in an infantile way, I am not sure that my 14 month old grandson is so badly behaved, he added to the penalties that put his team in a position to lose. All I know is, he should pay a fine for putting his team at risk. The lesson is your fit of infantile behaviour might have just cost your team the game. Anyone who behaves like they can get away with anything can delay a project because they have a knee jerk reaction should grow up, breathe deep and make an adult decision.
- Never let it be said that the stakeholders aka the fans in Winnipeg weren’t exactly a shining example of good sportspersonship. I know that you were frustrated but have you ever thought that the noise you create makes it difficult for your team to concentrate, especially when it is negative. The lesson is peripheral noise and distractions make it tough for the team to focus. The project manager’s role, read that to be coaches, is to make it possible for the team to concentrate and focus. Unfortunately, we can’t remove the fans or the club will go broke but next time, before you lose it, remember that wins are best motivated by positive feedback.
If we follow Bear Bryant’s philosophy, when the team wins, the credit goes to the team; when the team ties, everyone gets a share; but when the team loses, the coach or coaches own the outcome.
So, the credits are awarded as follows:
- Paul La Police is a class act and gave his team credit for the hard work. The team won rather than any one individual. Jyles did a good job but so did everyone on the field. I am so glad he isn’t Jimmy Johnson; a man who never met a camera he didn’t like and blamed his team for everything.
- Both teams get credit for hard work in the overtime games. They don’t happen often so their commitment to the process was great to see.
- Wally Buono owns the B.C. loss. I sincerely hope that he has a long talk with his team. Bad behaviour is bad behaviour and there should be consequences. By the way, the assistant coaches are to blame as well.
Wrapping it up, I could easily have made this the longest blog ever written. The game was ripe with lessons learnt.
Tag, you are it. Contribute your Drive By PM moments.
