Do you have the best gladiator fighting for you?

Tuesday, March 31, 2015 2:18 PM by Molly Fullan in Other


When I meet someone for the first time there is the standard exchange of pleasantries which usually includes the question, “So, what do you do for a living?” And I answer, “I am an associate project manager for Taylor Studios.” I give a brief explanation about managing schedules and budgets as well as acting as liaison between our clients and the rest of the Taylor Studios staff. I receive a polite nod and an “isn’t that nice” smile. I’ve often noticed the difficulties project managers face go unseen due in part to effective project management, which mitigates concerns before they have a chance to develop into larger problems. But perhaps this blog might change the “isn’t that nice” smile into “I had no idea!” wide eyes.

Managing changing client expectations is one of the biggest day to day challenges. One of the most crucial conversations we have with clients occurs when we delve into goals and objectives together. It lets us know what the client wants to get out of the project while allowing us to guide clients into what are reasonable requests given the time and budget. Over the course of a project, the thrill of trying to produce the best exhibits can cause clients to lose sight of what they find most important. This is when project managers have to gently remind clients that, “Yes, I know a 20’ T-Rex model is exciting, but the interpretive writing has been done, and I don’t think we can work it in with the prairie dog exhibit unless we start over with a Change Order.”

Change Orders are frequently viewed as awful things. I sometimes wonder how our clients see us, perhaps the classic villain with the curly mustache and sinister laugh saying, “No, we can’t do that if you want to meet your schedule,” or “No, that’s not in the budget.” Personally, I hope they view us as legendary gladiators fighting for the glory of their client’s project. A successful arena requires many gladiators to keep the crowds coming, and it’s always helpful to have a brother in arms, but sometimes we go up against our fellow gladiators to battle over which project will be top priority for the week. Perhaps that’s a little over the top, but it does illustrate how difficult coordinating multiple projects can be and the strain that it put on a department’s schedule when one project takes an unexpected turn and requires more time.

One item that I have found particularly problematic in the museum exhibit field, is that no two projects are alike. While our process is setup to be flexible enough to accommodate any sort of curve ball thrown our way, it still requires much skill and practice to be able to hit one out of the park. It can be frustrating at times when I’m expecting a basic fastball, but all of the project managers at Taylor Studios have learned how to adapt and have contingencies in place to handle each project’s unique circumstances. And to be honest, I think we all enjoy the thrill of the challenge.

So, do I have you staring at your computer screen with wide eyes thinking “I had no idea!” why not sign up for a blog feed and discover what else you may be missing out on?

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