dispatches from the new world of work

100 Ways to Succeed #105:

Master of Internal Processes

(More from the Charlie Wilson post.)

Become a Master of Internal Processes. Recall, from the Charlie Wilson post the reference to Tom DeLay who effectively controlled the House of Representatives by grabbing control of internal processes. This requires heavy investment (again) (what doesn't?) and a passion for details. This one, too, is open to junior folks.

Addenda: If you are boss of a project team, no matter how small, include a Master of Process, preferably with corporate staff experience, for your team. Also bring on someone who likes to "do lunch" with those in the "underbelly" (Gust Avrakotos—CIA) of the organization; this, Ms Project Manager, is your job, too—personally. Incidentally (not so incidentally, actually) "Ms" is likely to be far more effective at this than "Mr."

Tom Peters posted this on 01/07/08.

Comments

The other tactic I always find useful is this: be the one who writes up the minutes. (But please keep them to action points and outcomes; I hate notes that said Mr. A opined thus whilst Ms. B felt otherwise...) If you write up the notes, you get to shape the project and identify the points that get prioritised, communicated to other folks and generally followed up on.

Posted by Mark JF at January 7, 2008 11:05 AM

I think that in some circumstances that minutes MUST reflect the various opinions and statemetns.

In a Board setting, especially a Non-profit Board setting, it is critical and, in my humble opinion, required to fulfill the fiduciary resposibility and the requirement to keep accurate and complete records. It maintains accountibility.

At the same time, a limited document as described by Mark JF is VERY useful. However, the two are not mutually exclusive!!

Posted by s g at January 7, 2008 11:47 AM