How can you maintain a positive attitude in Program Management?

Having a well-thought-out business case, objective(s), and a plan being yours and the team's "north star" is a big factor. Additionally, when things change unexpectedly, those are opportunities for group problem-solving, which is even more fun for me to facilitate.

Often frustrations in program management come about when we encounter a challenge with a critical dependency, or more specifically, the person at the helm of that dependency. People can simply seem ‘difficult,’ and that is a large stressor in program management. It’s critical to remember each stakeholder has their own challenges, concerns, and obstacles, and are probably doing their best with the tools they were given. People are also reluctant to change direction when they’ve invested so much time, effort, and emotion into their work. Take time to understand their perspective. Listen to them. Most of the time you’ll find you just need to apply a different approach. “Understanding” is often the best tool it a PM’s toolbox.

1. Recognize small accomplishments and achievements. It helps people empowered and realise their contirbutions create value and are acknowledged. 2. Create a transparent and effective communication modes. In todays world, there are lot of things that dont require hierachies. Team that accepts and takes the responsibilities, it helps everyone to grow.

Treat fairly Celebrate small wins Appreciate team efforts Discuss collectively (failures/ successes) Improve transparency Position the right people for the right tasks Timely decisions

One of my favorite books is Leaders Eat Last Book by Simon Sinek, talking about leadership and work environment. One of my favorite parts mentioned --> Stress and anxiety at work have less to do with the work we do and more to do with the weak management and leadership. When we know that there are people at work who care about how we feel, our stress levels decrease.

Focus on what you can control. Build and leverage relationships that allow you to influence what others can control. Let others worry about what you can't control or influence. And if the work isn't fun, change the work!

In the dynamic world of program management, maintaining a positive attitude is not merely a choice; it's a necessity for fostering team synergy and ensuring personal well-being. As the program manager, it's tempting to prioritize team needs over our own. Schedule regular breaks throughout the day, step away from your desk for lunch, and engage in activities that promote relaxation and stress reduction. Micromanagement can stifle creativity and erode team morale. Instead, foster a culture of self-organization and trust. Clearly define roles and responsibilities, provide guidance and support, but allow your team members the freedom to explore solutions and make decisions. This approach empowers your team and reduces your stress burden.

The 3 things a Program manager needs - 1) Good health, balanced mind comes from yoga ,meditation and positive foods. 2) Circumstances, food and habits don't control you. 3) Clear mind , good self image, and self fullfillment in the work we do. What I believe is a A program manager goes into the tough meetings keeping aside any self doubt. Program manager is always looking at the program and how to complete it successfully, pulling in stakeholders where required. Program manager is facilitating meetings, teams, guiding, encouraging teams to come together to complete the program. Yoga , meditation brings in the calmness, sense of purpose, a farsightedness and the positiveness required to complete the program successfully.

The demanding nature of managing programs often leads to stress, which can impact decision-making, overall health, and team dynamics. Here's an elaboration on the stress management strategies : 1. Setting Realistic and Prioritized Goals. 2. Delegating and Outsourcing Tasks. 3. Creating and Following a Routine. 4. Taking Breaks and Time Off. 5. Exercise and Healthy Eating. 6. Meditation and Relaxation Techniques. 7. Seeking Support and Feedback. Stress management is highly individual, and different strategies work for different people. It's crucial to explore and adopt stress management techniques that resonate with you and create a plan that fits your lifestyle and preferences.

Simple steps 1 Achieve small milestones within the project 2)Recognize the individuals who played the excellence in each step of the project 3) Small get together to break the ice and regroup the team to improve further . 4) Larger rewards on achieving the project purpose. 5) Provide a chance to take the lead on new projects based on the skills exhibited during the course of the project and communicate at the end of the project

In one of my previous companies, I launched the following recognition approach: - on All Hands meeting, introducing the Achievements section dedicated to announcing people taking part in delivering significant results - ad-hoc, when a phase or a program ends, the communication for the entire company is launched (email, a post in the internal social network - the key is reach). To make sure that the whole company feels the bloodstream flowing.

Program management is often a marathon, marked by numerous milestones and deliverables. Acknowledging each of these - such as successfully navigating a critical project review, meeting a challenging milestone on schedule, or even resolving a complex stakeholder issue - can significantly uplift morale and build confidence. For instance, in one my team we established a tradition of holding brief ‘success debriefs’ after each major phase. In these sessions, we not only discussed what went well but also shared tokens of appreciation for individual and team efforts, which cannot be so transparent during standard retro.

Celebrating achievements of the team and acknowledging them in a bigger forum (organisation level), celebrating any achievement of a milestone with a team success lunch or outing. Keeping the team positive and morale up by frequent team building exercises like Pot Luck lunches, virtual coffee sessions (virtual global teams), family gatherings etc. This will create a harmonious team environment which eventually leads to program success.

Keep the mission of the program at the center of the work. Focus on identifying objective outcomes and how to measure them to meet the mission. Celebrate meeting the mission!

Mistakes happen, nobody is perfect and you cannot control all variables in your project. Don't blame yourself or someone else but learn from the cause and introduce a process or a structure to prevent it.

It is critically important to create an atmosphere or culture where mistakes are acceptable as long as lessons are learned. Learned has to mean that actions are taken rather than lessons just being recognised and/or written down.

Learning from mistakes is a critical aspect of maintaining a positive attitude in program management. Here's how embracing mistakes as learning opportunities can help foster a positive mindset: 1. Growth Mindset. 2. Problem-Solving Skills. 3. Resilience and Adaptability. 4. Improved Decision-Making. 5. Team Development. 6. Preventing Recurrence. 7. Innovation and Creativity. 8. Reduced Fear of Failure. 9. Positive Organizational Culture. Mistakes are a natural part of any complex endeavor like program management. Embracing them as opportunities for growth and learning not only contributes to personal and professional development but also fosters a positive and resilient attitude within the team and the entire program.

💡 As a program manager, learning from mistakes is crucial. It starts with acknowledging and accepting mistakes, followed by analyzing what went wrong and taking responsibility. Seeking feedback from team members and reflecting on lessons learned play a significant role. Implementing changes, communicating effectively, and encouraging a culture of learning are essential. Continuous progress monitoring, adapting lessons, and applying them to future projects help in growing as a program manager.

An experience is a unique institution of our past. We try to use another cases but don't know all conditions of that decisions and our choice becomes half productive. I'm not propose to use only our own mistakes, but recommend to share lessons learned and be a part who received the same wide structured information

Seeking positive influences, both internally and externally, is crucial for maintaining a positive attitude in program management. Here’s how cultivating positivity can positively impact program management: 1. Practicing Gratitude and Optimism. 2. Self-Compassion and Resilience. 3. Challenging Negative Thoughts. 4. Surrounding Yourself with Positive Influences. 5. Mentorship and Learning from Others. 6. Professional Development and Networking. 7. Training and Skill Development. 8. Mindfulness and Stress Reduction Techniques. 9. Supportive Team Dynamics. Pursuing and embracing positive influences, whether internal or external, is key to sustaining a positive mindset and nurturing a more productive and rewarding program management journey

💡 As a program manager, seeking positive influences is crucial. Surround yourself with knowledgeable individuals, seek mentors for guidance, and attend industry events to learn from experts. Engaging in professional communities, reading industry publications, and fostering relationships with other program managers offer valuable peer-to-peer learning opportunities. Seeking feedback from team members and embracing a growth mindset are important. Encourage a supportive team environment and look for role models who demonstrate successful program management practices to learn from. Strive to emulate their positive qualities and continually seek opportunities to grow and improve as a program manager.

I believe making enough time to be able to read, listen to podcasts etc. is really important; the small learnings we all get (even if they are just reminders) from this type of activity really help to keep your mind positive and challenging yourself. Yes making that that can be a challenge in itself, but is definitely worthwhile.

Any successful program deployment, especially multiple projects should start by being cheerfully enthusiastic. If the team faces a roadblock, find ways to circumvent them. Have a mindset to learn from them and use them when called for. Communicate, communicate and communicate with all the concerned teams to set the right expectations. Approach with a helping attitude, especially if newbies are present. Train yourselves with the company’s strategic goals, and stand for them. Always be honest and trust your team, and maintain a very cordial, open atmosphere for the members to participate with a troubleshooting focus and not accusing anyone of any mistake. Learn from it, and ensure it is not repeated.

I would like to do it continuesly during life cycle. If not, your program stopped to exist, because there are not enough reasons to recognise it as a group and you can't manage it effectively

Personally, what has worked for me is having two separate phones—one for work and one for personal use.This approach has helped me set distinct boundaries between my professional and personal life, a challenge I often faced. Some might find it amusing, but if setting boundaries independently proves challenging, having a physical separation, like using different phones, can be a practical solution. Despite some occasional teasing from stakeholders and peers, having that clear separation has been key to keep a positive attitude and avoiding burnout. For those struggling with boundary-setting, having a dedicated work phone or even stashing it away in a drawer during personal time can serve as a helpful impediment.

Most Program or Project Managers are typically driven, achievement-oriented personalities. Some of the ways I've found that keep me going are setting non-work goals where achieving those goals relies totally on me vs. being dependent on others. Usually since I use my brain all day long, the best goals are using my physical body. For example, I once made a goal to hike once a month for a year and managed to keep that going for 3 years! Having both personal and professional goals brings so much enrichment, especially in the more stagnant moments in my career.

Recognizing that the plan is not as important as the Team supporting the plan and if the Team supports the plan then be positive that the program will be a success.

Make sure you are working in an environment where you are challenged. You can do this by building a diverse team with different viewpoints. It enhances creativity and leads to better solutions. I get uneasy when my decisions are not challenged.

It is very broad topic and probably need to be asked for specific scenario… for program or any other management there are two artifacts to be checked - how the organization as a system celebrate wins - how the system acts in difficult times Welfare, appraisals, acknowledgment of contributions, social works are all good feature if the first artifact Solidarity, empowerment, dynamic leadership, shared responsibilities are for the latter.

Maintaining a positive attitude in program management involves staying focused on goals, fostering effective communication, adapting to challenges, and celebrating achievements, creating a resilient and optimistic work environment.

Stay curious, everything you build won't be perfect, and even if it was, it no longer will be as time evolves, so always being humble to new thoughts, ideas, and strategies are crucial.