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This week is International Project Management Day (the first Thursday of November each year). I believe it’s time for us to revisit a topic that has been particularly important over the past 12 month. The world is still trying to figure out what work and life are like and how to do all the things that we’re supposed.
Anna Codrea-Rado sends me her newsletter for writers every week. She recently wrote about productivity dysmorphia, the feeling that you are not productive, even though external eyes would place you as Person Who Gets Things Done. I believe I suffer from it, as do many other project managers.
How much stuff we accomplish. How many tasks have been completed. How close are we to completing the tasks, to inbox zero, and the next project closing report or client demo. Is that really the way we should rate our time? Or our time?
What is important in project management?
Is it delivery? Risk management? Engagingstakeholders? Benefits? Lead the team?
Nope.
None of these things are high on my list.
You.
You matter.
Your mental, emotional, and physical health are the most important things.
You can’t pour from an empty glass.
#WorkSafeHomeSafe
The #worksafehomesafe approach was used by Terminal 5 to upgrade the hold baggagescreening machines. Everyone returned home on time, every day.
They avoided the “hero” culture and excessive hours that are so common in project teams. They had open discussions about stress and expectations. The team was focused on their mental and physical well-being.
Yes, this approach had an impact on project delivery.
They arrived 35 days early.
Mental Health Champions
Mike Belch, RSM associate director, spoke to Project Magazine recently about his experiences with stress.
He continued:
“Every RSM office has multiple trained mental-health first-aiders. Every major project or project management office should have a mental champion to ensure that there are people who can look for problems. They can take action when they see performance issues.
Interventions don’t need to be large-scale. Sometimes all it takes to make an impact is a conversation and a cup or two of tea. That’s something we can all do.
The Wellbeing of Project Professionals: We are worse off than the Average Employee
APM conducted some research this year on the wellbeing of project managers.
The results are interesting and comforting reading.
The study found that the nature of the work is what makes it a risk to our health and wellbeing. It’s not you. It’s your job making you feel this way.
The study examined how project professionals felt about their work. It compared us to 70,000 other employees — the general working population (which I’m going refer to as the “average worker”) It took into account the work environment, engagement, and health.
What the Study Said
These are some headlines I found fascinating:
Our well-being is directly affected by communication and resources at work. This includes the lack of training and feedback on performance. This affects us more than the average worker.
According to the study, project professionals have a lower work/life balance than average workers.
Project professionals reported a higher than average impact of their workload on their wellbeing, mainly because of tech overload and unrealistic deadlines.
Nearly all the workplace relationships that were examined in the study were deemed to have a “high riskW” of affecting well-being. The people you work alongside, especially your supervisor, can cause stress.
Our job goals are less clearly defined than those of the average worker. This results in job goals and objectives being less well-defined, which can lead to a lower level of clarity.
