Skillsets

I am in the process of completing Google's Project Management certification to further enhance my natural pull towards this industry and progress skillsets I have built over a career in leadership, innovation, planning, organization, and people management. Alongside that, I am deepening my understanding through an "Agile in Jira" course by Atlassian, further strengthening my toolkit for effective project execution. These traditional skillsets, paired with my technical and softskills, as well as my experience managing and executing special projects makes me a strong project manager. 

My leadership style is all about service – I see my role as not just guiding but also supporting my team to grow and succeed. Creating an environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to do their best work is what drives me as a leader. Respect of a team is something that is earned by demonstrating quality, fostering trust, and empowering growth. I take pride in watching my team strengthen their skills, become more confident, and reach their full potential.

I bring a proactive approach to budget management, understanding its pivotal role in project success. While continuously enhancing my expertise in financial stewardship, I'm committed to ensuring optimal resource allocation for every project. Different projects will require different approaches, but using guiding principles of success, regular tracking and updates, and clear outlining of needs, expectations, possibilities, and adaptions, a budget can be successfully managed and adhered to. 

I approach risk management with a keen eye for detail and a proactive mindset. Pattern recognition, a grounded worldview, and anticipation of error - both human and machine - help to identify risks before they happen and unravel where things go wrong. An adaptable and creative mindset helps to adjust when a task does not go according to plan. When a project or process turns out differently than expected, I learn from these experiences with humility to improve and do better next time, believing that while perfection is impossible, the opportunity for improvement and growth is ever-present.

Ensuring quality is paramount in any project. I'm meticulous in an on-going evaluation of standards and guiding individuals to meet expectations, always striving for excellence in everything we do as a team. I love celebrating successes with team members and acknowleding the culmination of good work. When work does not meet standards, I am comfortable having tough conversations, always choosing to focus on growth, improvement, and encouragement to inspire quality and deeper engagement the next time.

Over 200 years ago, Robert Burns wrote "the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry," and in all the years since, we have hardly ever broken from that. Adabtability is an essential piece of managing a project. There will be need for flexibility and change with people, projects, and everything in between. Fluently understanding when to dig in and when to flow with the new path unraveling in front of you is a delacate but critical balance. There will always be something or someone to adjust to, and this skillset is something I pride myself in as an individual and as a leader. 

Building strong relationships is at the heart of effective project and people management. I bring a high level of emotional intelligence to my work, fostering trust, openness, and collaboration within teams. With a background in psychology and a natural interest in human interaction, I pride myself in being a leader people can turn to, open up with, and trust. At the end of the day, we are all human, and we all want to feel understood, safe, and cared for.

Communication is key, and I pride myself on my ability to express ideas clearly, whether it's through written reports or engaging in discussions. I believe effective communication is the cornerstone of successful project collaboration. I adapt my communication style to the company and colleague, and have experience across a wide range of both traditional and modern communication formats, from meetings, presentations, emails, and even primarily GIF-based conversations.

My skills in time management and prioritization ensure that everything gets done efficiently and effectively. I'm adept at project and task breakdowns, calendar management, and more both for myself and others. I'm proficient at juggling multiple moving parts at once, as well as communicating these expectations to others through a variety of formats, from things like Google Calendar and Trello to more traditional whiteboards and sticky notes, and I am learning Jira through a course from Atlassian now. While the methods adjust to the team and project, the core skillset remains the same.

When it comes to problem-solving, I like to think outside the box. I thrive on finding innovative solutions to complex challenges, approaching problems with creativity and an open mind. When there is a barrier to progress, I find rethinking the problem from a new perspective opens many doors. Collaborating with others and asking the right questions are methods I find help get a project unstuck and moving again. There will always be roadblocks, but viewing them with excitement as an opportunity for creativity keeps work engaging and rewarding. I cherish those breakthrough moments after a big challenge!

I view change management as nurturing growth – like planting a seed, there is much that can be done to create the right environment for transition. While the ecosystem you are already in may set a precident, there is much a gardener and project manager can do to ensure change is adapted successfully. By fostering a supportive ecosystem for adaptation and transformation, doing the right planning and preparation, and implementing measured change in a way tailored to the affected group, I believe we can navigate change with confidence, resiliance, and success. Done the right way, this in turn creates opportunity for an even stronger ecosystem than before.

Negotiation is all about finding common ground and reaching mutually beneficial agreements. I pride myself on my ability to navigate difficult conversations and find win-win solutions. Staying focused on priorities and understanding that all of life is a give-and-take, I find balance in standing firm behind key points and understanding when it is important to offer flexibility and adjustments where it is most helpful to progress and larger goals.

Conflict is never pleasant, but a leader who is avoidant when conflict occurs on a team cannot drive the necessary change and growth a team needs. I approach conflict resolution with empathy and understanding, striving to find constructive solutions that benefit the big picture. I believe that people act with the best intentions and motivations based on their individual understandings and experiences. Understanding why someone has taken an approach often unravels a deeper understanding of the conflict, and a pathway to peace and progress becomes clear.

Critical thinking involves discerning essential details and uncovering deeper insights, guiding effective problem-solving and decision-making. Reading between the lines, finding the information in between what is openly presented, and organizing it with overt data is something I do with finess. When thinking critically, I weigh various factors, assess risks, and explore alternatives. Moreover, my approach encourages innovation, identifying areas for improvement when possible and driving positive change.