The Often-Overlooked “Other Stuff” in Project Management
The Challenge
At Trideum, Project/Program Managers, while expert at the nuts and bolts of project management, often struggled. In one circumstance, those challenges almost drove a critical subcontractor away, jeopardizing contract performance and a potential option year opportunity. Catalyzer’s CEO, a former Trideum employee, was invited in to resolve the issue, which he did, resulting in outstanding reviews from the Government over a two-year performance period. In the aftermath and contemplating the larger challenge across multiple task/project/program leads, Trideum’s President/COO invited Catalyzer to develop a course that integrated the “art” of leadership with the “science” of project management.
The Goal
Develop an appreciation for, and broader understanding of, those skills and behaviors necessary to effectively lead project teams, especially emotional intelligence and communications skills. In the meantime, use this collaborative, face-to-face opportunity as a launching pad for each cohort to build sustainable relationships across the company.
The Solution
Leveraging the very contract which was the impetus for the thinking, Catalyzer developed and delivered a four-day program manager’s “intensive.” Delivered on-site at Trideum’s Huntsville, Alabama headquarters, nine, more senior participants comprised the initial cohort.
Pre-course work follows from a kickoff webinar that explains the course and establishes expectations. Course execution begins on a Monday afternoon (enabling travel in the morning and avoiding weekends) and continues until Friday at noon. Thirteen modules are negotiated during the four days, including a lunch-n-learn on some related topic on Wednesday of each course’s week. The contract mentioned above has been developed into an immersive case study which serves as a thread throughout the week.
Company functional leads (contracts, quality, finance, etc.) lend depth to the program which is additionally supported each iteration by at least one sector lead (senior program manager).
Of the 13 modules, their art vs. science focus is approximately 60/40, respectively.
In order to meet the relational objective highlighted above for each cohort, Catalyzer sustains engagement with program participants for up to two years following the face-to-face, facilitating quarterly check-in sessions that enable that connection, while providing a platform to share challenges and successes that have arisen across various projects/programs. These meetings also provide Catalyzer an opportunity to share what they may be seeing as the “latest” in thinking related to topics covered during the course.
Results & Feedback
During the initial program’s execution, extemporaneous feedback suggested it was “95% there.” However, modest adjustments continue to be made every year since, based on Trideum feedback.
Select comments, collected via anonymous post-course surveys, include:
100% responded that “this was a good balance of art and science”
- “Everything covered was very deliberate and useful. Don’t remove anything.”
- “I highly recommend this program for all leaders at Trideum. Leadership and communication is something that is always discussed as a deficit, but seldom thought about deeply or taught well. This course makes you self-reflect on your own strengths and weaknesses and encourages you to find creative solutions in your own, unique team environment.”
- “I was very pleased that this wasn’t just a regurgitation of the PMBOK. As a person with a bit of experience, the PMBOK gives guard rails for running programs but no practical understanding of the way to maneuver contracts, humans, conflict, and deliverables all while keeping a ‘smile on your face’.”
- “[Catalyzer] provided one of the best tools that I have ever received in my professional career. I wish I would have taken this course years ago.”
- 100% strongly agreed that “Trideum should continue making this course available.”
What Came Next
The success of this initial course in 2021 resulted in Trideum’s commitment to offer this course annually. As of January 2025, four iterations have been completed, all with similar feedback/ results as are outlined above, and a fifth is scheduled for September 2025.
Additionally, Catalyzer was invited to morph this PM-focused course into a program targeting the functional staff. That course, similar in duration and execution, was developed in 2023 and delivered in early 2024. Future iterations of this course are also anticipated.