What is Project Leadership all about? What constitutes leadership, and how can we measure it? Why is it important to us? These are some questions that arise for me when I think about what I call the "Menund’r'm Conundrum".
Where did "Menund’r'm Conundrum" come from? Way back quite a few years ago, when I was working in the construction aggregates industry, I heard a terrific presentation. The speaker went on about how a General foreman at the Quarry, named Happy, had risen through the ranks. At each stage, people around him would always ask about Happy "How many Menund’r'm?" As General Foreman at the Quarry, Happy rose to have 40 "Menund’r'm", meaning that he now had 40 men working for him, or in other words, he had 40 "men under him".
While pockets may still exist where the "Menund’r'm Conundrum" is still alive, it has in many respects disappeared, especially when you look at the larger white collar world that has supplanted the old industrial economy. Industry is generally no longer made up of large Army’s of men reporting to work every day. Rather, the post-industrial economy is made up of large numbers of knowledge workers that mostly compose small teams that work on projects and initiatives to move something to the next level.
So many of us strive for leadership positions, and desire leadership roles. Back in the day of Happy, the General Foreman at the quarry with 40 Menund’r'm (men under him), there were few that could show themselves as leaders in any material way. But that has changed.
Today, we need not have any direct reports to be leaders. While having followers is definitely an indication of leadership, the number of direct reports we have is no longer a valid measurement of demonstrated leadership. On the other hand, we typically exercise project leadership and leadership in general by adhering to firm and ethical principles, communicating effectively with our peers and stakeholders across the organization, thinking strategically as well as tactically, and by executing with skill and determination.
It no longer take 30 years to have 40 "Menund’r'm" and to be called a leader. Today, we have a new breed of leader that exercises project leadership that brings results in a variety of ways and experiences great career challenge, success, fulfillment, and mobility all along the way.
______________________________________
John Reiling, PMP
Project Management Training Online
Tech Training Online
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