Project managers need to be flexible when solving problems. We'd like to share some hints on how to be flexible when approaching problems.

• Understand the dynamic context. Project managers need to carefully examine the situation and apply rules and processes accordingly. 
• Understand users' fundamental needs. A deep understanding can define the problem correctly and increase the possible options. 
• Look for the best solutions that are not the easiest nor more obvious ones. You would exhaust all the possible options, hear different perspectives, and look at the bigger picture before choosing. The solution has to fit the more significant the vision and your long-term goals. 

We can't get the best solution at all times, but we should be flexible to get the best solution as much as we can.

>> Tell me a time when you have to be flexible when approaching a problem? 

Relationship with our teammates, stakeholders, customers, and vendors decide if we can thrive at our current job as a project manager. Collaboration is the positive relations that we are looking for in the first place where we seek mutual interest and fully aligned goals. To achieve this, we would need: 

• Understand your strength and weakness so that you know when to ask for help and address issues independently. 
• The empathy that tries hard to understand others' perspectives and incentives. 
• Positive intent to solve a problem with win-win result and make others feel safe 
• Communication to constantly checking the alignment and address differences 
• Avoid "collaboration drag," which involves too many meetings, excessive feedback, an unclear decision process, and too many or un-prioritized requests  from stakeholders. Respect other's time is key when making decisions. 
  

When you don't know what to do, avoid the negative relationship. Most importantly, don't burn the bridges. Handle things professionally. 

Project managers are a leadership role. You would not come to manage a project without bringing your sense of ownership with you. 

A sense of ownership means having insights into all aspects of your project. For example, if you have a task delegated to various developers or partners. You would not treat it as a BlackBox to you. You would invest time understanding the studies even if you don't have to do the work. You wouldn't wait for guidance to make the project successful. When you have more knowledge, you feel empowered to bring new suggestions for improvements. 

The sense of ownership shows your interest in knowing more and proactively addressing problems. ​

PMO leaders need to avoid buries by pressing issues of today and think beyond the needs of the moments, such as handling team member leave and scaling up to taking more work. We share with you how you can control the well. 

• Build a system with structure and processes that helps your team to be productive and do the right thing. The system allows you operation without worrying about individuals leaving the group. 
• Collect knowledge that can help all team members to grow and thrive.
• Rotate your team member to learn and test your system to avoid a single point of failure. 

The goal is to grow with ultimate productivity and sustainability. ​

>> Tell me when you build a team that doesn't worry about individuals leaving and can scale up as you take more responsibilities.