Project Management
Certification & Training

By Dick Billows, PMP, GCA

Summary: Project managers need to be skilled at influencing people whether it is in motivating the project team, persuading stakeholders to support the project or resolving a conflict. The key is not just reacting to the actions of others but rather analyzing their behavior and what is behind it. We also need to develop a better understanding of the personality types and the patterns of behavior that we should expect from each personality type.

Quick Behavior Analysis

 

It is a good assumption that people's behavior results from their trying to satisfy their needs. We will do a better job handling people if we analyze their behavior and the needs behind it rather than just concluding that, "Dick Is a jerk!" or "Leslie is a nit-picker or "Sally always has to be the boss"

Think of the specific behavior of an individual that is troublesome. Now, do a behavior analysis, but don't get bogged down in details. Just answer  these simple questions:

1. What is the other person's recurring "problem" behavior? We want to describe what they say and do that is causing the problem.

2. Guess what he/she Gets/Avoids/Escapes by engaging in the "problem" behavior. That is the need we are trying to identify

3. What might you have do to to get him/her to stratify the need you have identified in other ways. In other words, what could you do to help the person change their behavior?

Personality Type Assessment to tailor your communications

1. Measure your personality with an Myers Brigg assessment test

2. Watch a video of a project manager tailoring a presentation to the profile of the members of the audience

3. Working with your project team and giving constructive feedback