Imagine the following scenarios: In a bustling city, two major projects—one in the IT sector and the other in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry—are underway, both facing critical challenges that threaten their timelines and overall success.

On one side of the city, a tech company is poised to launch a groundbreaking software designed to enhance small business inventory management. The project team, after initial success, hits a major snag. Despite employing the latest Agile methodologies and utilizing sophisticated project management tools, they’re unable to resolve a persistent bug that causes the software to fail under specific conditions. The project manager, known for her sharp analytical skills, sees the stress levels rising within her team as the launch date looms dangerously close.

Across town, an ambitious urban redevelopment project aims to transform an old waterfront into a thriving mixed-use community. The project, involving a team of architects, engineers, and construction managers, encounters a severe structural issue in the new high-rise residential building. With the potential to cause months of delays and escalate costs, tensions escalate quickly among the team members, threatening the collaborative spirit essential for the project’s success. Do any of these scenarios sound familiar?

In both scenarios, leaders recognize the mounting pressure and emotional toll on their teams. As each team gathers to confront their respective challenges, it’s clear that the solutions may lie beyond the conventional scope of tools and processes. Perhaps, instead, the focus needs to shift towards understanding the human factors at play: the stress, the communication breakdowns, and the need for a space where team members feel heard and valued.

Hello there! My name is Michelle Ajibola, and I’m thrilled to welcome you to my little corner of the internet—Humanness in the Hustle. This is where I get to share my journey and insights from going on 20 years of navigating the maze of project management within the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry. More than just timelines and technical specs, I’ve come to realize that it’s the human touches that often decide whether a project soars or stumbles. So, let’s talk about what it means to bring humanness to our projects.

What Exactly is Humanness?

Ever wondered why, despite all the cutting-edge tools and methodologies, some projects still end up feeling like a square peg in a round hole? That’s where humanness comes in. It’s those qualities that uniquely define us as humans—our emotions, our behaviors, our ability to connect and empathize. Humanness is about embracing the fact that each team member brings a spectrum of emotional intelligence, creativity, and intuition that no algorithm or app can replicate. It’s what makes us irreplaceable cogs in the machinery of any project.

In project and program delivery, humanness means valuing these personal interactions and understanding how they influence the success of our projects. It’s about seeing beyond the spreadsheets, Gantt charts or P6 Schedules, and Power-BI dashboards to the team working tirelessly behind the scenes, each with their own hopes, fears, and dreams/aspirations.

Why Should We Care About Humanness?

In a world that’s quickly turning digital, the human aspect of project management is more crucial than ever. Here’s why focusing on humanness could be your game-changer:

1. Boosts Emotional Intelligence: By tuning into our humanness, we get better at reading the room, managing our emotions, and supporting our teammates to thrive under pressure.
2. Elevates Leadership: It helps leaders tailor their approach to meet diverse team needs, fostering a work environment where everyone feels valued.
3. Spurs Creativity and Innovation: Those ‘aha’ moments often come from human insights, not data points.
4. Smoother Change Management: Understanding human responses to change makes managing transitions a breeze.
5. Builds Resilience and Adaptability: When plans go awry, a team attuned to each other’s strengths and weaknesses can pivot quickly.
6. Creates a Supportive Culture: A workplace that acknowledges humanness is one where everyone wants to be, reducing turnover and building loyalty.
7. Enhances Stakeholder Engagement: Stakeholders are more likely to rally behind a project when they feel a personal connection and genuine understanding from the team.

What’s on the Blog Menu?

So, what can you expect from Humanness in the Hustle? We’re diving deep into the less-charted territories of project management:

1. Bi-weekly Insightful Articles: Tackling everything from emotional intelligence in teams to the subtleties of leadership and communication, each piece will offer you a blend of theory and practical, actionable insights.
2. Real-Life Case Studies: We’ll share stories from various industries that highlight the power of humanness in turning project challenges into successes.
3. Tools and Tips: From communication techniques to morale-boosting strategies, you’ll get hands-on tools to enhance your team’s vibe and efficiency.

Stick Around for More

This is just the beginning. Over the next few weeks, we’ll explore the seven crucial reasons why humanness should be at the heart of every project. We’ll delve into how these insights can not only enhance your professional life but also enrich your personal interactions and overall outcomes.

Join me next week as we kick off this series with a look at how humanness can amplify emotional intelligence within your team, laying the foundation for a nuanced and successful approach to project management.

I can’t wait to embark on this journey with you, and I’m excited for us to explore together how a little human touch can make a big impact on our projects. See you in the next post!