Why Athletes Make Good Project Managers
Be a leader. Always be prepared. Communicate. Stay disciplined.
These concepts have been a part of my life since I was 10 years old, when I first stepped out onto the volleyball court. At that age coaches must simplify the game and stick to the basics, no matter the sport; a fifth grader can’t handle much more. Almost two decades later, with four years of Division I volleyball under my belt, and a half a decade into my project management career, I can’t help but look back and realize the same rules still apply.
Be a Leader
There’s no question that the project manager (PM) is looked upon to provide direction and has the capacity to influence members of the team in the same way a sports team captain would. In both instances, you’re a decision maker, have to be quick on your feet and always have the end goal in mind. You lead by putting the team first, the passion you exude becomes contagious, and you know how to get the best out of others. Enthusiasm, confidence and the ability to help facilitate points of clarity in times of uncertainty are vital both on the court and in the office. You must have patience, understand and embrace the process and make team members understand the value behind everything the team does as a whole.
Always be Prepared
Ask any collegiate volleyball coach or player why he or she is successful and some portion of accomplishment will likely be attributed to preparation. Before every volleyball match in college we reviewed game tape of our opponents and ourselves. We’d write down and submit notes on what we saw, practiced daily, studied our tendencies and consistently worked on our mechanics to see what worked and what didn’t before the next match. Different combinations of actions led to different results; the ones that worked were recorded and repeated, and the ones that didn’t were adjusted until they became the former.
Years later (not to say that I’m no longer active – enter: Crossfit) I’ve replaced my daily collision with a wood gym floor with a daily coffee, a keyboard and a process I follow that is always evolving based on the same concepts above. Every client, project, and project team is different. What worked for one client or project may not work for the next, but setting aside time to review lessons learned from previous engagements prior to starting a new project is a valuable exercise that is often overlooked. Documenting wins and losses upon completion and referencing back to them is critical for future success, and no PM, coach, or player can argue that.
Communicate
On the volleyball court communication is fundamental. Whether it’s calling out hitters on the opponent’s side, non-verbally sharing play signals with teammates, or even engaging in self-talk to get you through to the next point, no one should ever have to guess what your next move is. The same holds true for me now.
As the PM of a project team you’re on the hook to ensure both the internal and external teams always know the upcoming key activities and who is responsible for what. Proactively sharing information without being asked helps guarantee success, and paying attention to your audience when communicating facilitates the information transfer.
Stay Disciplined
Being a collegiate athlete demands sacrifice and therefore balance. You’re juggling daily practice, traveling, classes, schoolwork and social time. You must have the discipline to get things done within a given timeframe without sacrificing quality, and holding yourself and your teammates accountable. Being a PM demands the same attention to detail and self-control. Between tracking multiple work streams, attending meetings, producing your own deliverables, and helping the team stay motivated you’re forced to constantly prioritize and hold yourself and the team accountable.
Being part of a team with a common goal is where I thrive. By surrounding myself with people who are smart and driven will only help me grow, both on the court and in the office. While many non-athletes are successful PMs, having the background in sport has helped develop my leadership and communication skills while teaching me to always be prepared and keep myself disciplined. And I must admit high fiving coworkers and clients can go a long way too.