Results tagged “Brantlee Underhill” from Voices on Project Management

PMI staff member Valerie Carter scans badges for the popular opening session with General Powell.







Every day here in Denver, I just want to say "wow." Today was no exception.
    General Colin Powell opened as keynote for the PMI global congress. He shared numerous stories about his experience and demonstrated that he is a pretty good comedic vocal impersonator!
    General Powell talked a lot about leadership and its relevancy to project management. It's about followership, trust and facing reality. "You know you are a good leader if your troops follow you out of curiosity!
    At the end, General Powell answered some pre-submitted questions from the audience, including one about inclusiveness. "In 25 years, America's majority will not be white Protestants," hinting at recent research studies that predict that today's majority will be come the minority. "Leaders must represent their consitiuency. They must have empathy and understand those they represent."
    Given that General Powell demonstrated such vision and strategic thought in his words today, it makes one think even more about the decision he made earlier in the day regarding his endorsement of a U.S. presidential candidate. "Study the issues, study your conscience, and make your choice."

Our members continue to come back to PMI for various reasons, and the top two reasons are knowledge and networking.
    PMI chapters offer excellent opportunities for members to network and advance their careers through face-to-face meetings. And in a world that has become "smaller" through social networking, connection is high on the rise of interests.
    I am often reminded of two PMI members I met at different times. The first, Oscar, contacted me years ago for assistance with his member benefits. Oscar still contacts me with questions and I am happy to help him find what he is looking for.
    Then, about three years ago while in Argentina, I met Miguel who was very curious about a nuclear industry networking group. Since PMI didn't have any SIGs in that industry, I returned to PMI, determined to find an answer, when it finally hit me: Oscar.
    I e-mailed both Oscar and Miguel to introduce them to one another, and low and behold, they were old friends lost by distance. Their history went back at least 20 years, and now I reconnected them.
    While I have never met Oscar face-to-face, we have a professional relationship bound by PMI. And when I see Miguel and PMI global congresses in Latin America, we exchange warm smiles and greetings.
    Now, imagine bringing even more people together to share their knowledge and to network. Many of us do it every day via sites like Facebook, LinkedIn and MySpace.
    And soon you'll be able to do the same with the results of PMI's Virtual Communities Project (VCP)--an initiative to bring PMI's knowledge, technology and communities together to deliver value to PMI members to network, participate in discussions, contribute new content via wikis, offer opinions and ideas about a particular area of project management in a webinar, or just watch and learn. (For more information, read  What It Means to You.pdf).

    VCP was put to the test recently when PMI launch two pilot communities to test our new technology platform, and participate in the development and release of added features and functionality. The Human Resources Specific Interest Group (SIG) now boasts a "community of practice," and the International Development SIG rolled out as a "forum."
    In this truly transformational initiative, VCP will deliver what members have long desired: a one-stop shop for project management profession's knowledge.
    In a world of competing demands and uncertainty PMI will deliver. How can we help you?

Editor's Note: If you are willing to be part of the VCP transformation, e-mail PMI. Tell us who you are, what you do and why you are interested.

From left to right: Greg Stine, Connie Figley, Charlie Waligura, Brantlee Underhill at the PMI Leadership Showcase




We are having rich, content-filled days here at the "LIM" (Leadership Institute Meeting). Membership and credential holder engagement are hot topics amongst the volunteer leadership. With nearly 420,000 combined members and credential holders in PMI--50 percent of Project Management Professionals (PMP^®) credential holders are members--our opportunity and challenge is to rethink the mindset of how we deliver.
    There are many reasons people come to PMI. Even the reasons why a person acquires membership vs. PMP certification are different. Generally, PMI research can help tell us why--and locally, chapters need to validate that information. Chapters have the opportunity to build creative solutions with trusted partners like PMI and others in the project management community, to give their members what they need, while doing the same for credential holders.
    For example, while knowledge and networking are some of the top reasons why people join and renew their PMI membership, it is not the case in Japan. I met with our Tokyo Chapter today.
    The Japanese don't consider networking a primary value offering. The chapter offers opportunities, yet networking is not one of the top drivers of involvement. Knowledge is key, and the chapter has worked with PMI to translate several PMI standards into Japanese, which makes the Japanese version of A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK^® Guide) one of PMI's best sellers. And working together, we have enabled a technical solution for the Tokyo Chapter to send members to a Japanese language membership renewal process.
    What a model of maturity and forward thinking. My team was impressed with the discipline and process they have instilled in their operations. It was the first time I saw a chapter define a branch development and maturation process. They truly understand and embrace the value of business development planning and strategic alignment. They are considering their markets and understand what the segments need.
    Good things are yet to come, and the leaders keep coming back. Today I caught up with some "old timers" (they said it, not me!). Just check out Connie's "flair" in the picture--the pins say it all and document her years of involvement.

This week, over 700 volunteer leaders from PMI's chapters, specific interest groups (SIGs) and colleges will gather in Denver, Colorado, USA for the last PMI Leadership Institute Meeting of the year.
    PMI's Leadership Institute program offers volunteer leadership development that incorporates focused, disciplined training opportunities in both virtual and face-to-face settings. Association governance, individual "soft skills" and PMI organizational knowledge are the keystones of the program.
    This Leadership Institute Meeting is by far the largest we have ever hosted and exceeds the attendance of some of PMI's global congresses. Thank you to the volunteers who have all taken a role to build and execute all four of this year's meetings. We met with success in Sydney, Australia; Malta; Sao Paulo, Brazil; and now Denver. What a team!
    In planning for the "LIM" (we love to make acronyms!), our team of staff and volunteers contemplated the effect the economy and recent financial downturns would have on our attendance. In tough economic times, individuals and families attempt to shave costs and reduce spending. They will, however, hold onto what they value, whether it is a meal at a favorite restaurant, an annual getaway or career development opportunities.
    At a time when there is much uncertainty about what will happen next, PMI is right there with its members and practitioners, constantly defining and redefining the value that draws people to our organization. For as much as you consider what is happening around you, so does PMI. And that is one reason why the higher-than-ever attendance at this week's LIM both surprised and didn't surprise me.
    I was surprised that many leaders had opted to travel when travel is usually one of the first things that individuals and companies will cut. In addition, I have heard some individuals say they are staying at work for fear of not having a job should they leave for a couple of days.
    Yet, a strong contingent of PMI volunteer leaders is drawn to Denver from as far away as Russia, Pakistan, Australia, Jamaica, Israel, Brazil and Nigeria. I am always impressed with the lengths that people will travel--physically and psychologically--to attend PMI events.
    What didn't surprise me is the commitment that these leaders make, to their professional, to their PMI chapters, SIGs and colleges, and to themselves.
    When I orient new staff to the volunteer community, I try to describe the personality culture. You know how there are A-type personalities and B-type personalities? Well, PMI's volunteer leadership is "Triple A!" They are so passionate about what they do within PMI, volunteering in their spare yet shrinking time, for no money, while balancing life, family, career and more.
    They see the value that leadership training and volunteer experience will deliver to them. It comes in the form of new jobs, speaking and presentation opportunities for other PMI communities, and testing one's own ability to lead while building the skills and tools to succeed.
    The volunteers are the lifeblood of our organization, no doubt about that.