Project Managers and Howling

Ever notice how certain trades and careers tend to attract a certain type of people? Project Management is one "white collar" career that definitely attracts the A type personality. A's are driven, self assured, and generally a pain in the butt to be around because they're like babies in that they always want things their way.

These are the people that when you want just a little change in their plans due to changing business needs or other issues that weren’t considered, you’d think someone keyed their new car the way they howl. I think the reason for this though is they’re ultimately responsible for the final outcome of any project. Projects that require program management usually are higher profile, higher dollar investments and driven by upper management.

On the other side of the equation are the middle managers who may have a vested interesting keeping things the way they are but won’t go against an upper management directive. They need to be seen as team players, ya know. So, middle management works on sabotaging the project without being seen as a trouble maker while the project manager is trying to deliver on the requirements of his project.

Come to think of it, a project manager has a right to howl!