High Voltage Project Management

High Voltage Project Management

One doesn't usually equate rock n roll music, nor AC/DC, with PMO Leadership or Project Management.  While out for a walk one day I was a bit, Thunderstruck, as I was listening to my AC/DC playlist.  There are so many references which are a perfect match for my career leading projects and PMOs.  I decided to take a deep dive into the albums, lyrics, and songs of my favorite band to find the connections with my journey as a project management leader.  The output of my work is High Voltage Project Management, influenced by over 50 AC/DC songs spanning move than 40 years of musical genius.

Just like the iconic lyrics in Let There Be Rock, in High Voltage Project Management I utilize Sound, Lights, Drums and Guitar for my Project Management Journey.  Each verse contains a collection of songs that relate to our shared experiences as project managers.  

• Sound - Project Management Character
• Lights - Project Management Execution
• Drums - Project Management Career
• Guitar - Project Management Profession

Throw on your headphones, put on your favorite AC/DC songs, crank up the volume and enjoy the journey.    

We're just talkin' about the future
Forget about the past
It'll always be with us
It's never gonna die, never gonna die
Rock 'n' roll ain't noise pollution

Despite all the rumors Project Management is alive and kicking, It's never gonna die.  Project Management Ain't Noise Pollution or overhead in an organization.  It is the driving beat that helps push organizations forward project after project after project.  To me it makes good, good sense!  We can all be great musicians, singers, and crew but together we are the band, the PMO.  The PMO and our rock stars will continue putting out the hits for years and decades to come!

Sound - Project Management Character

It takes a special person to be a successful project manager.  There are plenty of Risks and Issues we work through on a regular basis.  We have to deal with the personalities of multiple stakeholders and the stresses of deadlines and budgets.  It's not for the faint hearted.  Rejection is commonplace for project managers.  "No you can't increase the budget", "No you can't add team members", "No you can't delay implementation" are an all too familiar chorus we hear.  Far too often our ideas are Shot Down in Flames.  We need to be able to bounce back from being turned away at every request and build a thick skin.  

As experienced project managers you know we pour our heart and soul into our projects.  If You Want Blood You've Got It lyrics drive home the point...

Feelin' like a christian
Locked in a cage
Thrown to the lions
On the second page
If you want blood, you got it

Sound familiar to you as well?  When you are getting hit and rejected turn after turn the PM must take it for the team and keep the project moving forward.

We must have a Stiff Upper Lip.  We can't be rattled by angry Sponsors or teammates.  We can't be shaken when a project stumbles or fails. We need to be Back in Business and know that we'll be Back in Black...

I've been looking at the sky;
'Cause it's gettin' me high;
Forget the hearse 'cause I never die;
I got nine lives; Cat's eyes;
Abusin' every one of them and running wild

Lights - Project Management Execution

A good project management pro has been through the battles in the trenches developing a sound character to be proud of and collect the lesson learned of past projects.  Delivering projects, Project Execution is when we hear the thunderous beat to keep us motivated as the lights shine bright on us.

The project manager certainly knows the meaning of Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap and Money Talks as we work to keep our projects on track.  Try that we might, we know at some point we'll see the CPI get out of control and know we've reached Code Red.

When we think back to our team meetings and developing status reports we've all experienced that one teammate who is Beating Around the Bush...

Smiling face and loving eyes
But you keep on telling me all those lies
How do you expect me to believe
Honey I ain't that naive;
Baby I got my eye on you
'Cause you do all the things I want you to
Stop your cryin' and dry your tears
I ain't that wet behind the ears;
You can throw me lefts
And you can throw me rights
But where was you last night
Beating around the bush

As the project reaches Go Live and the excitement starts to ramp up, we feel the energy in the team.  Stress is high, emotions on edge, it's the Go Zone and no time for Systems Down or a Meltdown.  We've all faced the Executive Steering Committee and know that this is very different than a dress rehearsal or team meeting, this is Show Business and sometimes we get a sneak peek at Sin City.  

We learn how to Play Ball and occasionally when things are really off the rails the message comes down from above to blow it up.  Time for T.N.T.  and There's Gonna Be Some Rockin as the Executives share their frustration and disappointment.  Unsure how they had inside knowledge you realize someone must have gone behind your back as Hail Caesar rings through your head.

Even though the team has a Squealer you can still overcome the set back and hope there hasn't been a Jailbreak...

Heartbeats, they were racin'
Freedom, he was chasin'
Spotlights, sirens, rifles firin'
But he made it out
With a bullet in his back

Drums - Project Management Career

The career of a project manager is a long road, one could say It's a Long Way to the Top if You Wanna Rock n Roll and we know that it Ain't No Fun Waiting Round to be a Millionaire.  

And I got patches on the patches
On my old blue jeans
Well they used to be blue
When they used to be new
When they used to be clean

It takes time to climb the career ladder from Coordinator to Jr PM, then PM and finally a Sr Project Manager.  Even longer to become a PMO Manager or Director and eventually the coveted VP of Project Management.  Along the journey you'll experience Baptism By Fire and you'll have plenty of School Days.

There will be doubters who question your character and wonder aloud What Do You Do For Money Honey.  Sponsors will try to Walk All Over You and call you a Problem Child or worse.  There will be days you question your career choices.  You'll hear Hells Bells and wonder if you're on a Highway to Hell...

Livin' easy Lovin' free,
Season ticket on a one way ride
Askin' nothin',
Leave me be,
Takin' everything in my stride
Don't need reason,
Don't need rhyme,
Ain't nothin' I'd rather do

Persist you must as you struggle to advance.  You will face many a Nervous Shakedown and feel the pain as if it were the Night of the Long Knives.  We are a special breed though.  We are tough, we are committed, we are built to lead.  We may feel the Down Payment Blues from time to time, but we know it is worth it in the long run.  For when we reach our goals, we know we'll be Thunderstruck...

I was caught
In the middle of a railroad track
I looked round
And I knew there was no turning back
My mind raced
And I thought what could I do
And I knew
There was no help, no help from you
Sound of the drums
Beating in my heart
The thunder of guns
Tore me apart
You've been
Thunderstruck

Guitar - Project Management Profession

Project Managers have been leading projects as long as man has been alive.  Professional, intentional project management however, is relatively young as a profession.  There are many disciplines, methodologies, frameworks and approaches to project delivery that vary across industries and associations.  Regardless of the approach, industry, or project size one thing is for certain, project managers want to be the Rock n Roll Singer.  We are the front man for our band, the Bon Scott, Brian Johnson, Jim Morrison, Mick Jagger, Robert Plant of our project team...

My daddy was workin' nine to five
When my momma was havin' me
By the time I was half alive
I knew what I was gonna be
But I left school and grew my hair
They didn't understand
They wanted me to be respected as
A doctor or a lawyer man
(But I had other plans)
Gonna be a rock 'n' roll singer
Gonna be a rock 'n' roll star

While historically a male dominated profession we are finally starting to shine the light on the outstanding women in project management.  There are many leaders of this movement such as Elise Stevens and her #celebratingwomeninprojectmanagement initiative.  She's Got Balls is an anthem to all the female leaders who are rockin projects around the world showing us that women are just as much out front like Janis Joplin, Debbie Harry, Ann Wilson, Joan Jett and Stevie Nicks.

To know where we are today and where our profession is headed, we should have an eye to the past.  What are the beginnings of modern project management and ask ourselves, Who Make Who?  There weren't university degrees for project management.  There weren't global associations for project management.  But there were pioneers, leading the way who had the courage to step out on stage, grab the mic and let the world know that Project Management was born.