WEEK 7

Leadership exercise: Dealing with difficult people

Purpose

The purpose of the exercise "Dealing with difficult people" is intended to illustrate difficulties related to leadership in project management. During this activity, groups of learners realize a project kick-off meeting. One of the group members represents the project manager, who has to lead the meeting and in the end receive the signatures of all group members representing their commitment. Each of the other group members is instructed to "act" as a specific personality (for example, a whiner, no-person etc.).

In order to successfully finish the kick-off meeting, the project manager has to react adequately to each of the specific behaviors, in which case, the respective group member changes into a cooperative, positive person and agrees to the proposed project plan.

Goals and objectives Goal

The goal of the activity is to principally to illustrate leadership difficulties typically encountered in practice.

Objectives: After the session, participants will be more aware and attentive in dealing with personalities as part of leading the execution of a project.

Group size

Groups are composed of at least 5 participants and with a maximum of 8 participants. Each member of the groups assumes a specific role, including:

• Project manager (1 participant): responsible for leading the meeting and obtaining the commitment of all group members.
• Other group members (4 -7 participants): to "act" as instructed and change into a cooperative, positive person, when the project manager responds adequately to their behavior.

Duration

Phase	Time
Explanation of the activity	10 min
Execution of the meeting	30 min
Learning experience sharing by teams	30 min (5 min each team)
Debriefing	10 min
TOTAL	80 min

Physical setting

Room size depends on the number of groups providing sufficient space for each group for the realization of the meeting. At least on desk/table should be available for each group.

Materials and equipment

Cards with instruction for the behavior of the group members (one set per group). Card with simplified project plan (one per group).

Process

Phase	Description
Realization of kick-off meeting	Each group selects one member as a project manager. The project manager receives a card with a simplified project plan as a basis for the realization of the project kick-off meeting. Each of the other project members receives a card instructing which personality type s/he should represent. The project manager starts the meeting and tries to obtain the commitment of all members. The members participate in the meeting "acting" as the personalities they represent. The project manager has to respond to the presented behaviors. When the project manager's reaction is considered adequate with respect to a specific behavior, the respective member changes into a cooperative and positive participant of the meeting and demonstrates his/her commitment by signing the project plan.
Debriefing	In discussion with all participants, the groups reflect and report on what happened during the meetings and identify strengths and weaknesses involved in leading such complicate personalities. The participants also reflect on what they learned in this activity and how they can apply this in their daily work routine.

References

L. W. Anderson, D. R. Krathwohl (eds). A taxonomy for learning, teaching, and assessing: a revision of bloom's taxonomy of educational objectives. Longman, New York, 2001.

R. Brinkman & R. Kirschner. Dealing With People You Can't Stand. McGrawHill, 1994

Topic: Project Management Based on Week 7 classroom activity (Leadership for Project Managers), complete the following questions as a group: 1. Reflection (2.5%): Reflect and report on a. Identify strengths and weaknesses involved in leading such complicated personalities. b. What you learned in this activity c. How you can apply this in daily work routine. 2. Learning application (2.5%): Describe what happened in the meeting using the basic Project Executing management model given below. How effectively were the various Planning Level of effort components of project management discussed in the Defining Closing planning meeting? Start Time End Defining Planning Executing Closing 1. Goals 1. Schedules 1. Status reports 1. Train customer 2. Specifications 2. Budgets 2. Changes 2. Transfer documents 3. Tasks 3. Resources 3. Quality 3. Release resources 4. Responsibilities 4. Risks 4. Forecasts 4. Evaluation 5. Staffing 5. Lessons learned