The A-Z of Project Management Survival

Reading through the entries in this A-Z, you may form an opinion that the authors are a little harsh on project managers as a race.Obviously, we're not saying that all managers are bad, but here are very many that drag everyone else down into a pit of despair.

One such group of these managers are the channellers. As ever, this is another subset of managers who come under the broad category of "Can add no value so scramble about trying to find ways to appear to add value."

Channelling is all about control of information flow. Collecting information from those who know and communicate it upwards and they are seen to be on top of the situation. Get a decision from higher management and pass it down as they're own and they are in control, reactive, happening.

This is particularly obvious when there is really good or really bad news about. The channellers are easy to spot. Volunteering to send emails, organising calls, saying things like "I'll take that to Darren, he should hear this from me." I guarantee that you have already thought of someone you know who does this.

Obviously, the game here is a spot a channeller and make sure you do the communication and watch them seethe at first; then slope off just in case someone asks them to do something.

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You will often hear people say that "there is no Silver Bullet". And this is generally true. Such miracles tend not to happen. What you can say, though, is that there are many situations that would be significantly improved by Silver and Bullets.

It is hard to see how getting rid of useless people and paying a little more for good people can't help. Not necessarily a palatable option but quote it to people seeking miracles. It might shut them up.

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