Tag Archives: project management

243 Less Talk

Less Talk

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#243 Less Talk

This is a continuation of the previous comic. I’m still surprised when I think about how little value management puts into communication and teamwork. Every now and then the question “why do you need to talk about the project” keeps coming up. Hm, I wonder why?

One thing that I’ve learned over the past 2 years is that communication within a team is extremely valuable. I thought it was just something you say because it sounds right. But after what I’ve been through, I thoroughly understand it.

 

 

242 Meet of the Matter

Meet of the Matter

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#242 Meet of the Matter

Have you ever worked at a place where communication was not valued at all?

We’ve all been there before. There are meetings that are a complete waste of time because you have no stake or contribution. There are meetings about meetings about meetings.

But what about the meetings where stuff can actually get accomplished? Those are the meetings that this comic is about. Some projects are highly collaborative and require multiple forms of communication, especially if there isn’t a clear leader. That’s right. If there is no one leading, then everyone is leading. Therefore, everyone has a say in how things get accomplished. That sounds like the definition of collaborative to me.

It’s been extremely difficult because leadership does not understand the value of communication or collaboration. It seems to be expected that everyone to be a drone. And as I look around the office, I clearly see the “robot” personality type — keep to yourself, check-in, then check-out kind of people. My team is the opposite and it’s scare for leadership because it puts them out of their comfort zone. But some projects need communication and collaboration.

Shoot. If I wasn’t working on the same thing with these people, we would probably NEVER meet. I would become a lonely drone in an endless sea of cubes.

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239 The Big To-do

The Big To-do

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#239 The Big To Do

I have to thank my friend and colleague Brian for the phrase “nuke and pave.” I mean, sometimes that’s all you can do. Sometimes there’s really no fixing something. Cut your losses and start over.

230 The Plan Is

The Plan Is

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#230 The Plan Is

Continuing the same line of thought of the previous comic…it’s pretty annoying when the so called the management doesn’t actually manage. I mean, sometimes the answer that we underlings want or need to hear is “I’m not sure, let’s figure something out” along with a little bit of follow through once the plan has been decided on. But many times, it’s the “ignore a problem and it solves itself” mentality that prevails.  All I can say to get me through the day is, “whatever man.”

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229 Critical Errors

Critical Errors

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#229 Critical Errors

I mentioned this in the last comic, but Dilbert has been really speaking to me lately. You guys don’t even know….sure, there is a fair bit of exaggeration, but there is always truth in hyperbole.

I just hope that if I ever become management, that I can actually be a good leader and to trust my subordinates.

But let’s talk about the Oscars for a second. How is it possible that the accountants/producers of the show not step in much sooner? It’s just like management to only act when they have to, right? And even still, they might just let someone else do the dirty work and take the credit.  Like, why did the La La Land dude be the one to make the announcement?

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227 Project Requirements

Project Requirements

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#227 Project Requirements

Growing up, Dilbert never really made much sense to me. But now that I’ve spent some time working in a couple different different industries and on different types of projects, it makes too much sense. Why is the workplace like this? Why do we always say yes to something before thinking about it first or, at the very least, give meaningful consultation on what can and/or should be done.

But it’s true.  It’s all true.

Dilbert project requirements comic