Sharing the love

Making a difference by design…

On how to lead a successful project… (or business)

Picture 'we're for love' by Michael Hill
Picture: from Sir Michael Hill’s inspiring book of doodles & quotes Catch & Release.

Entrepreneur Cindy Gallop on how to build a successful business (or team):

There is a formula for success in business, and it goes like this: 

You set out to find the very best talent in the marketplace, and then give them a compelling and inspirational vision of what you want them to achieve for you and the company.

Then you empower them to achieve those goals using their own skills and talents in any way they choose.

If, at the same time, you demonstrate how enormously you value them, not just through compensation, but also verbally, every single day, and if you enable that talent to share in the profit that they help create for you, you’ll be successful.

It’s so simple, and virtually nobody does it, because it requires a high-trust working environment, and most business environments are low-trust. In order to own the future of your business, you have to design it around trust.”

Source: The Most Provocative Woman in the World: Cindy Gallop

 

This quote landed in my inbox as part of James Clear‘s weekly 3-2-1 email (He’s the author of Atomic Habits).

Cindy’s formula in short:
talent + vision + empower + value & share = success. 

I believe the formula is very similar when you manage a project.

Just replace ‘compensation‘ and ‘profit‘ in her quote with ‘results‘. In whichever way they may come. The results might be accolades/awards, if so remember it’s the team’s work, not yours. All go up on stage to receive the award. If the results come as  receiving the first products of the line, make sure the whole team is there.

As a project manager you’re managing talent who do work you can’t do. You’ll need to trust them. Ensure you have a relation where they trust you and you trust them. You especially want them to speak up if something doesn’t feel right.

And to build that trust? Just have a chat.

If I trust you and you trust me then I can leave you to it to do your job well. I know you will come to me when there’s something in your way of doing a great job.

And I’ll check in regularly, making sure you’re ok. Showering you with appreciation. Because you’re doing a job I can’t do. And I love that!

If you’re happy and doing a great job, and so are all our mates on the project team, then together we can create magic. And make a difference.

It starts with a conversation and a bit of love.

When the power of love
overcomes
the love of power
the world will be a better place.
– Jimi Hendrix (quoting Sri Chinmoy)

Read more: A great book on the subject is The Fearless Organisation.

Let’s share the love and design for the better!

Onwards & upwards,

 

ps. Have a question? Give me a ring (021-68 49 68) or hit reply here to have chat!


About Saskia

Saskia is a new product development expert. She helps organisations to unlock their potential to consistently deliver new products faster, better, more profitable and with more fun.


Workshop. Come join me!

I’ll be in Invercargill on Friday 11th of September to deliver the Streamline NPD workshop. In person! Live!

This 1-day workshop is for you if you:

  • like to learn (or refresh) the Basics of New Product Development (NPD)
  • want to be up to speed on the latest thinking in NPD
  • would like to get a step-by-step guide of how to take an idea through development and launch in the market
  • want to know how to do that faster, better, more profitable and with more fun.

Learn more here.


PS – Whenever you’re ready, here are five ways I can help you to make a difference by design:
(1) Set up a time to talk, give me a call (021-68 49 68) or send me an email.  I’d love to have a conversation with you.
(2) Download my “Product Development Warriors’ whitepaper. Find it here!
(3) Sign up to my newsletter.
(4) Connect with me on LinkedIn, you’ll also find me regularly posting there.
(5) Forward this email to a colleague.