ROCK-STAR PROJECT-MANAGER

The life of a rock star is  breathtaking! The world is at his feet. his fan base is eccentric.You need to watch a show performed by a rock star to get the feeling of being one.

Love or  hate his swag,picking up a fight with him is a no brainier:  you simply loose.Most times he never lifts up a finger to fight when attacked: his crowd does the fight.

Rock Star is a term attributed not only to Rock and Roll luminaries, but also to anyone who is an exceptional standout in a profession or a skill area. One cannot claim Rock Star status. Usually,others proclaim it for you. One needs to be recognized by others in order to attain Rock Star status. It is more fan recognition of accomplishment than any real certified proclamation.

So what does it mean to be a Rock star Project Manager...

100% Communicator.

 A Rock star project manager necessary isn't your everyday geek who bores you with facts and figures he  is  one who  makes genius look so simple and  good to be true without airs... There is always a light bulb awakening whenever he expresses and communicates his views. He has savior- faire.

He cares genuinely and his team members know he isn't playing mind games when he inquires about their personal lives and well-being,.

His team  understand when he has to be bullish to agreed overall goal and his team always want to win for him because they believe and understand when he wins they all win.

ENGAGES AND manages his stakeholder: PMI (Project Management Institute) was spot -on when she added stakeholder Management to her knowledge area. The rock star PM is quite aware of the effect an unidentified stakeholder could cause on a project and he never stops being curious to asking questions that are always revealing. He is the go-to guy when it comes to connection.He satisfies his stakeholders.

Understands the SOCIAL ERA.

The social Era could be defined as this era  we presently  live in. An era where millennial with the aid of software programs and electronic gadgets build virtually one  of the biggest business empires. One of such is Mark zuckerbergs Facebook   whose return on investment haven’t stopped raking in digits and stunning business veterans.

The Rock star Project Manager understands the new media was invented for him and all he needs is just a gadget to create  amazing sparks!! His name is the first on the lips of his circle of influence on the know –how of his time.

WIN-WIN Negotiator.

A rock star Project manager understands that in negotiation you don’t need to leave the next guy crying foul after a deal has gone down. He understands what is in for both parties and works hard at making it end win-win. 

When he doesn't have the resources to seal a deal he uses his brains! He is an abstract thinker. Of all his most prized assets his BRAINS Stand out and  he always stretches it.

Honestly/Credibility:

To the rock star Project Manager, he knows character is like a Smoke you can’t hide for too long. He  has built  a character of honesty and credibility and understands the value of a good name. He barely leaves his signature on uncompleted tasks and though he understands the influence and power of Money he would rather choose value over fame. With the invention of the social media you can see through his net worth within his network.

PAYS ATTENTION TO DETAILs

This is his hallmark and non-negotiable. To so many he is a perfectionist; to him paying attention is a culture and a way of life.

He keeps beating on his Craft!

I read an extract from  former Manchester  United’s  head  coach biography  Sir Alex Ferguson  who is viewed by many as one of the world’s most  successful football manager in his controversial biography and this is what he says regarding his top players.

“I used to see Cristiano Ronald( one of the world’s top forward who now plays for Real Madrid) Beckham, Giggs, Scholes and others out there practicing  for hours .I’d be  banging on the window saying  we've got a game  on Saturday! But they wanted the time to practice. “

A rock star Project manager is like a diamond in the rough.He keeps beating on his craft in the dark. This reflects when you   engage in an intellectual juggle with him.  He is the butterfly in the social circle whose insights leaves you nodding in approval. He exhumes intellect in a sexy SMART way and his peers believe his brains must be Google!!

HE Practices volunteer Leadership

In a world where everyone wants something for themselves and don’t seem to fathom what on earth giving in oneself  for a cause is all about. A rock star Pm is an eagle in the storm, call him  up at 11:45 for  a community  project  and he follows through it like it’s a million dollar deal  his life depends on.

His peers refuse to believe he has nothing to gain from most of his selfless cause. one of his mantra’s  which sounds  vague  to his peers but so true  is “The evil you do remains with you, the good you do comes back to you”  As  a rock star anything he touches trends and  has an attraction that is always breathtaking!!
He sure understands what value is and value to him is everything.

STREET SMART:

A rock star Pm has a Rolodex of virtually everyone you barely expect.The amazing thing about our rock star is that he knows them by  their names and possibly occupation. There is no feeling in this world as refreshing as hearing the sound of your name being called by the rock star! He understands trends and knows wars to fight and those to simply back off!

AGES WITH GRACE

Have you seen a rock star age? The sight is like the beauty of gray hairs. When he ages, he turns idol. He is the mentor you are never get tired of sharing ideas over coffee or listen give a speech.  He leaves you with  one feeling, SOLD -IN.

Meeting him for the first time you assume he is trying to show off  his achievements but  no apologies, his stories and lessons are a litany of experiences of being a rock star and you never go wrong when you listen  to them. They reveal his vulnerability, courage and even foolish judgments a combination of what leaves him legendary in our minds eye. 
Lastly, he has AMAZING SUCCESSORS who thrive in their different fields and are so proud to have been a men tee of his. To him they are his success but to them he is their LEGEND!

Your turn…

THIS LIST IS INCOMPLETE!!We request you make your ROCK STAR Project Manager LIST and we talk about it.

Just in case I’m speaking the mind of a female ROCK-STAR who wonders what it takes to be a female version accept my apologies for sounding chauvinistic if we came off that way but have you ever seen a FEMALE ROCK STAR?  She is in a different LEAGUE!! She is SEXY!and in our Urban dictionary,Sexy means being SMART.

Substitute the male attributes and what you have is A SEXY (SMART) FEMALE Amazing ROCK-STAR!.

Charles Umeh

@charismacharles(twitter)
Written for an On- line Publication