Biggest Challenges Faced by a Biology Project Manager at HELIX Environmental Planning
Katie's biggest challenge as a Biology Project Manager at HELIX Environmental Planning, Inc. is managing "the people," describing a workplace with "really big personalities" who can become "very passionate, very heated" leading to challenges in managing expectations and preventing problems stemming from misunderstandings. Successfully navigating these interpersonal dynamics is key to Katie's success in this role.
Project Management, Communication, Teamwork, Problem-Solving, Overcoming Challenges
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Katie Duffield
Biology Project Manager
HELIX Environmental Planning, Inc.
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Biology & Related Sciences
Consulting & Related Professional Services
Operations and Project Management
Took Out Loans
Video Highlights
1. Managing diverse personalities and expectations within a team.
2. Addressing and resolving conflicts stemming from passionate disagreements.
3. Communicating and explaining project limitations and decisions to team members effectively.
Transcript
What is your biggest challenge in your current role?
The people. It's the best thing and the hardest thing. There are a lot of really big personalities, and people tend to get very passionate, very heated about different aspects.
Sometimes it's a good thing. They're very passionate about something and get upset when things go wrong. Other times, it's a misunderstanding, or things just don't go their way.
This can lead to a bit of a temper tantrum. So, it's about managing people and their expectations, and solving those preventable problems. It also involves explaining situations, like why we can't do certain things. That part's a little difficult, but I.