The job of parenthood is the ultimate prep course for I.T.
project management. Parenthood allows us to practice the skills necessary for
successful project management everyday. How, you ask? Below, I’ve listed five
ways in which parenthood prepared me to be an effective I.T. project manager.
1.) Negotiation. Its
been said that negotiation is an art. It’s an art that I’ve perfected as a
mother. Oh sure, I can muscle my way through any argument with my child, but
what am I teaching him? And what am I learning? Negotiation requires us to
build positive relationships. Positive relationships are integral to successful
project management, and to parenthood.
2.) Delegation.
Growing up, whenever my mother made me clean, I would mumble under my breath
“When I have kids, I’m never going to make them do all this work.” Well, that
was then. The fact is I need help, so I delegate tasks. Everyone in my family
is responsible for their role in keeping the household running smoothly. Heck,
I even have my extended family and friends pitch in when they’re available.
Project management is no different. Project managers are not responsible for
doing it all, we are responsible for ensuring that everyone knows what to do.
3.) Manage the triangle. Parenthood, like project management, has its own triangle. With enough
time, money, and patience, my kid could be the smartest, most athletic, and
most well behaved child in our neighborhood. Unfortunately, I only have two of
those resources at any given time. The same holds true in project management.
There are finite resources and infinite needs. Pick the most important needs on
which to focus, remain flexible and adaptable, and breathe.
4.) Reuse, reuse, reuse. Code reuse in application development is one of the simplest concepts,
yet offers the best returns. Reuse can and should be applied to every aspect of
our lives, especially parenthood. Leftovers, household goods, clothing – reuse
it all! Anything that prevents us from doing redundant work will not only save
time, money, and energy, but our sanity as well.
5.) Every project has an end. Raising children is a project. And like every project, it has
planning, initiation, implementation, monitoring, and closing stages. There are
several projects I’ve worked on that I was glad to be done with, but raising my
child will not one of them. Whether you’re glad to see a project come to an end
or not, the most important thing is that you’ve learned from it. And if you’ve
left the world a bit better after the close of your project, consider it a
bonus.
