Tips for Adaptable Leadership in Project Management

Are you lifting your team or dimming their light? Great managers get results.  Brilliant leaders amplify people. You've met the energizers.  The ones who feel like vitamin D.  Uplifting. Clarifying. Impossible to forget. They leave you stronger than they found you. The good news? This kind of leadership isn't innate. It's practiced.  After years of coaching teams, I've seen a clear pattern: The most effective leaders build intentional habits that bring out the best in others. Here's how they operate and how you can too: 1. From Control to Trust  Loosen your grip. Brilliance needs space to grow.  ↳ End team check-ins by asking, "What decisions can you own this week?" 2. From Ego to Humility  Listening without defending invites hidden genius.  ↳ Before sharing your solution in meetings, pause and ask, "What are you seeing that I might be missing?" 3. From Scarcity to Abundance  Recognition multiplies when shared.  ↳ Publicly credit a team member's idea in front of senior leadership. Use their name instead of saying "the team" or "we." 4. From Perfection to Progress  Reward bold attempts, not just polished outcomes.  ↳ When someone brings you a failed experiment, start with "What did you learn?" before discussing what went wrong. 5. From Criticism to Compassion  Feedback can wound or elevate. Use it to reveal potential.  ↳ Replace "You should have..." with "Next time, what might you do differently...?" 6. From Comparison to Uniqueness  Difference is your team's edge.  ↳ Intentionally call on different communication styles. Ask your quiet analyst for written input. Invite your verbal processor to think out loud. 7. From Short-term to Long-term  Projects end. People evolve. Lead in ways that grow both.  ↳ During project debriefs, ask: "What skill did you develop during this project that you'd like to continue building?" Which shift will define your leadership this quarter?  Drop it in the comments. I'd love to hear it. 👇🏾 ♻️ Repost to spread brighter leadership. 🔔 Follow Michelle Awuku-Tatum for more human-centered leadership.

I received a private message asking me if I had a methodology or framework for leadership when I'm asked to solve a problem. I decided to throw this visual together and walk through my typical approach(keep in mind these are known philosophies that I have adopted and organized in a way that works best for me and my style of leadership). 1. Embrace a presumption of positive intentions as your foundation. This fosters an atmosphere of exploration through harmony and trust. 2. Prioritize active listening—a skill demanding full concentration and ongoing refinement. Listening acknowledges the perspectives of those being led but also encompasses the interpretation of non-verbal cues. Use open-ended questions as a starting point. 3. Engage in learning by delving deeper into the situation. Ask more targeted open-ended questions to gain nuanced insights. Reflective listening, pauses and summarizations aid in ensuring alignment and comprehensive understanding. 4. Analyze the situation through the lens of three categories: People, Process, and Product. In my experience issues typically involve a blend of these elements, if not all three. -People: Investigate items such as management dynamics, personnel development, navigating tough conversations, and effective training/onboarding. -Process: Assess the existence and efficacy of well-defined, replicable, and adaptable processes. Clarity and comprehensiveness in documentation are strong considerations. -Product: Evaluate your existing tools are they working for your team? 5. Now you are armed to lead with a better understanding of the situation.

I recently found myself thinking about an old but highly impactful community project I was a part of. It was one of those high-stakes situations with intense deadlines and a fair share of hurdles. A true test of leadership! In that challenging environment, I came to appreciate even more the leadership style I tend to gravitate towards: a mix of servant and democratic leadership. This approach prioritizes enabling the team, removing obstacles, and encouraging open dialogue where everyone's ideas are valued. I remember vividly how the project teetered on the brink, with stress levels spiking. As a leader, I knew something had to change. Here's what we did: 1️⃣ Streamlined workflow: We identified and removed bottlenecks to help the team work as efficiently as possible. 2️⃣ Open discussions: We fostered an environment where everyone felt comfortable discussing challenges and proposing solutions. 3️⃣ Extended timeline: Recognizing the undue pressure, I negotiated a slightly extended deadline to allow us to breathe. These actions didn't just save our project - they led us to surpass our community's expectations! Now, the key takeaways that I want to share are: 🔑 Empower your teams: A team that feels supported and valued is more motivated and productive. 🔑 Encourage open communication: Ideas can come from anywhere, and diverse insights often lead to the most innovative solutions. 🔑 Stay flexible: Rigidity in plans or timelines can sometimes be more hindrance than help. Adapt as needed. From this experience, my belief in servant and democratic leadership styles only grew stronger. It was a testament that when you prioritize your team, facilitate communication, and stay adaptable, there's no challenge you can't overcome. How do you approach leadership, especially in high-stress situations? Share your thoughts and insights in the comments!

The one constant in life is change. The ability to keep learning, growing, and adapting is essential. In my experience as Chief of Staff and Project Manager, I've noticed a common trait among successful individuals, teams, and companies: they're not afraid of change—they embrace it. Their ability to adapt, innovate, and collaborate propels them forward. By proactively leaning into change, they not only set themselves up for success but also foster a culture of continuous improvement and innovation. It's this forward-thinking mindset that keeps them ahead of the curve in our ever-evolving landscape. Here are 5 mindset shifts that can enhance adaptability for you and your team: 1. Embrace Uncertainty: See uncertainty as an opportunity for growth, driving curiosity and exploration. 2. Focus on Solutions: Shift your focus from dwelling on problems to actively seeking and implementing solutions. 3. Learn from Challenges: See setbacks and obstacles as learning experiences rather than failures, and use them to fuel growth and development. 4. Stay Open-Minded: Cultivate a mindset of curiosity and openness to new ideas, perspectives, and approaches. 5. Foster Collaboration: Encourage teamwork, communication, and collective problem-solving to leverage the diverse strengths and skills of your team. By embracing these mindset shifts, you and your team can better adapt to change, overcome challenges, and thrive in dynamic environments.

📌 The best advice I learned in my 13+ years of working in the field? It has to be Actively collaborating with professionals! Leaders who recognize the value of collaborating with professionals from different industries are most likely to achieve success. That was my secret of how I was able to transition into tech from the medical field smoothly. Collaborating with professionals has given me enriching experience and has significantly contributed to my growth as a leader. Here is how- ➡️ Fresh perspectives: → Working with professionals from different industries exposes you to diverse viewpoints and problem-solving approaches. ➡️ Clear communication: → Collaborating with diverse professionals, I've learned to adapt my communication style to ensure clarity and understanding across the team. ➡️ Flexibility: → Engaging with various industries has taught me the importance of being adaptable as a leader. ➡️ Cross-functional synergy: → Building relationships with professionals from different industries promotes cross-functional collaboration within my team. ➡️ Conflict resolution: → Working with diverse professionals inevitably leads to disagreements and conflicts which in turn hones your conflict resolution skills. ➡️ Networking opportunities: → Collaborating with professionals from diverse industries provides valuable networking opportunities, which can lead to new partnerships and business opportunities. How has collaborating impacted your leadership journey?

Are you adaptable as a leader? Does your team have a mindset ready to embrace change? In the ever-evolving landscape of business, adaptability is a cornerstone of success. As leaders, our role is to cultivate a team culture that not only accepts change but thrives on it. Here are three essential strategies to foster adaptability and readiness within your team: 1. Lead by Example Demonstrate flexibility and a positive response to change. Your approach to challenges sets the tone for the entire team, inspiring them to view shifts in the workplace as opportunities rather than obstacles. 2. Foster Open Communication Encourage an environment where team members freely express their ideas and concerns about changes. Open dialogues help demystify changes, reduce resistance, and facilitate smoother transitions. 3. Encourage Continuous Learning Support your team in acquiring new skills and knowledge. This commitment to growth promotes a mindset that is essential for adapting to new challenges and technologies. Adaptability is not just about responding to changes—it's about anticipating and embracing them as opportunities for innovation and growth. Lead with flexibility, communicate openly, and champion continuous learning to see your team excel in a dynamic world.