Project Leadership and the Art of Managing Involvement

Michael K. Clark

Proceedings of the 30^th Annual Project Management Institute 1999 Seminars & Symposium

Running an efficient organization requires that myriad tasks, projects, decisions, and plans be completed by teams or groups of employees. It requires the involvement of the right people at the right time to make certain that the components operate successfully. Above all, it requires the commitment of those involved. A well-orchestrated involvement of people leads to the high level of commitment required to move an organization toward common goals. Project management is about people and how they interact and plug into the organization’s goals and objectives. Leadership is what breeds involvement, not project management software and endless Gantt charts. This article will review a research-based but practical way to improve project management leadership and effectiveness and better ensure the success of project implementation.