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Stepping Out of the Comfort Zone:

Evolution from PM to Leader

Darla M. Howard-Ramirez, MBA, PMP

PMIWDC Past Chair

PMIWDC Shenandoah Valley Community

January 29, 2013

Project Management is Growing & Valuable!

• PMI now has more than 650,000 members and credential holders in more than 185 countries.

• As many as 97% of executive respondents agreed that PM is critical to business performance and organizational success, and 94% agreed that PM enables business growth. PWC Global Project Management Report 2012

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Typical Day in the PM Life

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• Application of knowledge, skills, tools and techniques to project activities to meet project requirements

• Established Tools and Processes• From Chaos to Order• Rarely Boring• Communicating

I Know What I Am Doing

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Comfy Couch

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Time to Evolve

• Move Out of that Comfort Zone!• PM is the foundation for becoming a Leader• By being here tonight, you have proven that

you want more than the status quo

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Get Out of Your Comfort Zone

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Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Albert Einstein

OH! The Possibilities

• Be a Better PM• Get a Promotion• Improve Material Ownership• Have the Perfect Family Life• Make More Money• Stop Smoking• Lose Weight

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Groundhog Day or Progress?

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Evolution of a Leader: Move Around

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Evolution of a Leader: READ

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Evolution of a Leader: THINK

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• Lift up your head and look around

• Where is this industry going?

• How do I align my skills to be prepared for this change?

Evolution of a Leader: Courage

• Speak up when it is prudent • State your case• Support and promote good ideas• Make sound decisions

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Evolution of a Leader: Visionary

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Evolution of a Leader: Inspirational

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• Treat others the way you would want to be treated

• Get buy in and support for your ideas• Be the “Go To” Person

Evolution of a Leader: TRUST

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"Trust is the easiest thing in the world to lose, and the hardest thing in the world to get back."

Evolution of a Leader: Motivational

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Evolution of a Leader: Traits

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Traits of a Leader– Mobile– Informed– Think– Courageous– Visionary– Inspirational– Trustworthy– Motivate Others– Shows How the “Seemingly Impossible” Can Be Done

Evolution of a Leader: Step Out of Your Comfort Zone

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Evolution of a Leader: YOU

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PM Leadership Examples in Our Midst

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Chris Fristad, MBA, PMP – Past President of PMIWDC & Current Leesburg Rotary Club President

David J Schwantes, PMP – Founder of this Shenandoah Valley PMIWDC Community. Perfect example of being a catalyst and lifting his head to look beyond - Having vision and wanting to satisfy a need, makes things happen!

YOU – How are you going to make a difference?

Get Out of Your Comfort Zone

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Parting Thoughts•“The individual who says it is not possible should move out of the way of those doing it.” ― Tricia Cunningham

•“Of course motivation is not permanent. But then, neither is bathing; but it is something you should do on a regular basis.” ― Zig Ziglar, Raising Positive Kids in a Negative World

Questions

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