[2025] International Project Management Masterclass

Sometimes being a kid, can be hard work.
If you want an ice cream, you might go and ask your mother, and if she isn't sure, she may tell you to go and ask your father.
But when you ask him, and he's also unsure, he may tell you to go ask your mother.
 

Have you ever tried to bust a pinata while blindfolded with a group of people trying to give you directions? Too high, too low, further to the right.
It can be really tricky to hit the target when you are not able to see what everybody else can see.
Let's talk about how we can avoid having your team members feel this way.

We all know how important communication is in projects.
When it comes to international projects, communication is an even greater priority.
When communicating across borders there are extra challenges to overcome.

When my daughter traveled overseas for the first time, like any parent, I was a little worried.
As she stepped out of the safety of our home and into the world, I made her promise that she would call, a lot.
Managing an international project is a little bit like this.

If I wanted to drive a nail into a piece of wood, I wouldn't get a screwdriver, I would get a hammer.
Different tools achieve different results.
It's the same with the tools for managing an international project.

I once worked on a project that involved an offshore vendor in Vietnam.
Management requested that we get an update on the status of the coding work in a short time frame.
A message was sent to the vendor asking for an update by close of business on Tuesday.
 

When I was in Jakarta, I came across a restaurant that had a sign out front advertising "Subversive Filipino Cuisine.
                " Of course, I was intrigued by the use of the word "subversive" to describe food.
So I went in, looking forward to the renegade, dissonant food I was about to be served.
 

Imagine you are driving through a really long tunnel.
It's not straight, so you can no longer see the opening, and you can't see the other end from which you'll emerge.
Your vision and sense of movement may become somewhat impaired.

Have you ever tried to tell a funny story to a group of people, and when you got to the poignant part, you paused, only to find that the people who are listening to you don't react at all? It is then, you realize, that you just had to be there.
Body language and facial expressions make up a large part of our message.
This is why face-to-face communication is, undoubtedly, the most effective means of communication available.
 

Human beings have varying levels of comfort with change.
Some people like change because it represents an opportunity but others don't like change because it forces them into a situation they've not experienced before.
When it comes to projects, change is inevitable.

If you're a sports fan, you probably know a lot of the superstars on your favorite team.
A superstar is also often the team captain.
As captain, they do a lot on, and off the field, but they can't do everything for their team.
 

I have a seemingly insignificant and sometimes humorous personal handicap, I'm color blind.
I am often certain something is one color, and actually, it's another color altogether.
I often have no clue what I'm looking at.

Being able to drive a car doesn't just require you to learn how to accelerate, brake, and steer.
You also need to be able to read the road signs to be able to navigate around potentially dangerous hazards.
Managing projects is just like that.

Growing up, I used to love watching science fiction shows.
My favorite was Star Trek.
In Star Trek, Captain Kirk is someone who is a bit of a risk-taker.