In this 100th episode of Season 4 of 'Project Managers’ Coffee Chat with Tim and Merv,' hosts Merv Jersak and Tim Jerome celebrate their milestone by diving deep into the human aspects of project management and the critical role of networking. The episode is a treasure trove of valuable stories and examples shared by both hosts, highlighting how effective working of rooms and maintaining relationships have propelled their careers. Listeners will gain insights into the broader impact of individual connections, the significance of unexpected networking opportunities, and the role competitors play in professional growth. The episode also reflects on the importance of not burning bridges and adapting plans to evolving situations, offering wisdom accrued over numerous experiences. This is essential listening for anyone looking to enhance their networking skills for long-term professional success.

Main Take-Aways

Stories are powerful teachers. Today’s story lessons help your understanding of the need to develop your skills to work whatever rooms you find yourself in:

• networking to prepare for a successful upcoming event
• nurturing professional relationships can result in unexpected opportunities
• observing experts in their abilities to work the room can teach you new techniques
• nurturing personal relationships can result in unexpected opportunities
• nurturing vendor relationships can result in unexpected opportunities
• nurturing competitor relationships can result in unexpected opportunities

Show Notes

Today’s Project Managers Coffee Chat: Leadership Lessons from the Trenches – Work Those Rooms!

00:29 Tim and Merv reminisce about their goals for Season 4 of this podcast series; namely to focus on the essential human factors of project leadership that transcend the technical and process skills project managers are expected to have.

02:45 Merv starts the story time with an experience of nurturing a professional relationship from initial meeting to ongoing encounters to an unexpected recommendation for a contract engagement.

04:55 Tim recounts a networking event where he was the observer of consultants who were expert at casual encounters to gather needed information.

07:46 Merv leaves the world of IT project management to tell a personal story of networking success where he nurtured a new relationship over several months. This relationship resulted in an unexpected appointment to a national committee where he was able to meet many other professionals.

10:42 Tim offers a similar experience where he maintained several vendor relationships over several years that provided additional networking opportunities.

11:35 Merv remains outside of project management and describes an unexpected result from an initial meeting to nurturing a relationship to being invited to a movie set by a well-known actor.

14:10 Tim tells of how a networked relationship with a company executive resulted in that executive recommending his products and services to other executives.

16:40 Merv reminds you that working a room that includes competitors can be a good thing, as shown by his own experience of receiving several job offers from firms that were once his competition.