Tim Jerome and Merv Jersak review research by Dr. Erin Meyer, discussing how perceptions, questions, and actions shape organizational (and in our case, project) culture. Key points include the significance of servant leadership and adaptive leadership, understanding ethical considerations across cultures, and the importance of customer-centric approaches in project work. This episode provides actionable insights and examples for project managers looking to improve team dynamics and project outcomes.

Main Take-Aways

Project managers should understand how perceptions, questions, and actions can influence the culture of a project:

• your responsibility in helping shape the project culture
• leading by example
• the role of servant leadership and adaptive leadership in helping to shape project culture
• infusing ethical considerations into the project to help shape team behavior
• focusing on a customer-centric approach as a major aspect of project culture
• co-locating customer and IT project teams to develop a collaborative project culture

Show Notes

Today’s Project Managers Coffee Chat: Project Cultural Influenced by Perceptions, Questions, and Actions.

 00:27 Exploring cultural influences in projects by considering perceptions, questions, and actions.

01:40 Understanding how perceptions affect project environments. Awareness that first impressions are important.

03:53 Understanding the role of questions in shaping culture.

05:38 Understanding the impact of actions on project culture.

06:51 Your responsibility as leaders in helping to shape team/project culture, to create the environment for engagement. Leading by example, asking questions, and listening for successful outcomes.

08:24 Servant leadership and its effect on project cultural assessment and shaping the work environment.

10:24 Adaptive leadership and its role in accommodating various working styles for maximum effect.

11:39 Infusing ethical considerations into the culture of a project to help shape team behavior.

15:20 Ensuring your project culture includes a major focus on being customer-centric.

16:39 Co-locating the customer’s project staff with the IT project staff to promote a project culture of close working relationships and collaboration.