College Experiences That Helped a Project Manager at Related Companies Succeed
Nick, a Project Manager at Related Companies, emphasizes three key career lessons: leading by example and setting clear standards to elevate team performance ("the quality of work over the course of the whole team will all raise"), effectively utilizing personnel to foster a sense of pride and importance, and prioritizing preparation to ensure consistent success ("anything you do today will set you up and help you tomorrow").
Project Management, Leadership, Teamwork, Work Ethic, Preparation
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Nick Prince
Project Manager
Related Companies
University of Colorado, Boulder
n/a
Political Science, American Studies
Architecture, Construction & Design
Operations and Project Management
Scholarship Recipient, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Greek Life Member
Video Highlights
1. Lead by example: Set a high standard for yourself and others by showing up early, asking for more work, and consistently producing high-quality work. This will inspire your team and raise the overall quality of work.
2. Utilize people effectively: Understand how each team member works best and leverage their strengths to achieve project goals. This approach fosters a sense of pride and importance within the team.
3. Preparation is key: Always be prepared for the next day by completing tasks and planning ahead. Being over-prepared is always better than under-prepared, ensuring a smooth workflow and preventing setbacks.
Transcript
What is one lesson that you've learned that has proven significant in your career?
Lead by example. In the early stages of your career, you're unlikely to be given a lot of responsibility. A great way to start is by showing up early, getting your work done, and asking for more.
When you set the tone, people around you in entry-level positions will raise their standards to match yours. This applies at higher levels too, like middle management. People will respect you more, and the quality of work across the whole team will improve.
It's important to be someone people can look up to, demonstrating how you conduct your business and how you expect others to. You need to set clear standards and expectations, making sure people know what you're looking for and how they need to work and act to be successful.
Another lesson is how to utilize people. People are the most important aspect of success in this industry, whether it's your project team, superintendents, craftsmen, or laborers. It's crucial to figure out how to manage them and understand how they work to get the best product from each person.
Working with each individual raises everyone's sense of pride in the project and their importance in the organization. Understanding people is huge in this industry.
Finally, there's preparation. Sometimes you might be at your computer late, having already worked 12 hours, and you just need to finish one last plan or task to set yourself up for the next day. Anything you do today will help you tomorrow.
Preparation is very important. You never want to be under-prepared, and being over-prepared won't hurt you. So, do more today, and it will help you tomorrow.
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