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Army of Awesome (Manage + Digital)

Army of Awesome (Manage + Digital)

This is an updated version of a previous talk; edited for the Manage + Digital conference in Minneapolis.

DPM. What’s that mean? It means Digital Project Manager. Okay? What’s that mean? Think about it—very few people know what it is you actually do every day. Even your mom scratches her head when you explain your job.

You need a simple explanation for the awesomeness that you unleash at work every single day. We all do. We also need a set of standards by which we all operate, because there is no path to follow when it comes to DPM. That ends now. This presentation will rally the DPM community around a set of principles that elevate and strengthen us individually, and as a community of practitioners. Let’s get fired up about who we are and what we do!

Brett Harned

May 03, 2018
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Transcript

  1. …for more than 5 years? Who holds the title “Digital

    Project Manager” (or something similar)? 

  2. “A Digital PM manages, coordinates, executes and implements the development

    and sometimes maintenance of digital projects such as websites.” 
 VANESSA BURK EXECUTIVE CHEF
  3. “DPMs keep projects moving. They maintain a clear grasp of

    the big picture, while noticing (and addressing!) little issues before they turn into headaches. They’re experts at articulating what’s happening, who’s responsible for it, and when it needs to get done, so no one— team, clients, stakeholders—leaves a conversation unsure what they’re supposed to be doing.” 
 SARA WACHTER-BOETTCHER CONTENT STRATEGIST AUTHOR, CONTENT EVERYWHERE
 DESIGN FOR REAL LIFE @sarawb
  4. “As far as I can tell project managers do nothing.

    But if they stopped doing it then I am pretty sure everything would fall apart.” 
 PAUL BOAG UX CONSULTANT AUTHOR, DIGITAL ADAPTATION @boagworld
  5. “Digital project managers are the stage managers of the Internet.

    They keep productions running smoothly, from the first rehearsal to the final bow. As the communications and organizational hub for all things creative and technical, they ensure that all disparate parts are working in unison, overseeing the cast and crew and pitching in when necessary. Without them, the director's vision would never become reality, and all of us would be out of work.” 
 WHITNEY HESS EMPATHY COACH
 CO-HOST, DESIGNING YOU @whitneyhess
  6. “A project manager captains the ship. Pilots the aircraft. Conducts

    the orchestra. Mans the torpedoes. Drives the bus. Alone they are nothing—but with the right process and team and resources—they are vital. They are everything.” 
 NANCY LYONS CEO, CLOCKWORK CO-AUTHOR, INTERACTIVE PROJECT MANAGEMENT:
 PEOPLE, PROCESS, PIXELS @nylons
  7. “Project management is like sweeping up after the elephants, only

    less glamorous.” 
 JEFFREY ZELDMAN FOUNDER, HAPPY COG, 
 A LIST APART, A BOOK APART, AN EVENT APART AUTHOR, DESIGNING WITH WEB STANDARDS @zeldman
  8. PMP

  9. • Eagle eye for issues • Clear, calm communicator •

    Empathetic • Curious • Invested in the work QUALITIES OF 
 GOOD PROJECT MANAGEMENT:
  10. • Eagle eye for issues • Clear, calm communicator •

    Empathetic • Curious • Invested in the work QUALITIES OF 
 GOOD PROJECT MANAGEMENT:
  11. WE MAKE OUR OWN TEMPLATES IF AND WHEN WE NEED

    THEM. WE DON’T SIMPLY FOLLOW TEMPLATES. WE ASK QUESTIONS. WE SEEK ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS.
  12. 1. Be Honest 2. Be Reliable 3. Communicate 4. Admit

    Fault (when it’s yours to admit) BUILD TRUST:
  13. WHAT IMPACTS PROJECT GOALS? EVOLVING BUSINESS NEEDS FEEDBACK (OR LACK

    THEREOF) BRILLIANT IDEAS! 
 UNINFORMED STAKEHOLDERS SHRINKING BUDGETS MISSED DEADLINES NEW REQUIREMENTS 
 POOR COMMUNICATIONS
  14. • Set achievable goals • Discuss them with someone •

    Plan for them • Check in on them regularly • Adjust as you see fit BE SURE TO:
  15. • Difficult conversations • Outcomes you might not be prepared

    for • Not being liked immediately THIS CAN MAKE FOR:
  16. “Sometimes telling the truth will not make people happy, or

    make you the winner of a popularity contest. In some cases you may suffer from ‘loss of grace’ for telling the truth or for standing up for what is right.”
 -THOMAS M. CUNNINGHAM, US NAVAL ACADEMY FIRE DEPT.
 Leadership 101: Integrity