Expresso Blog

Talk, Lead, Talk: Leadership Skills

In some cases, your title is not a project manager. Especially in weak matrix or functional organizations, you are called a project leader or project coordinator. Why? Because that is exactly what they want you to do. They will put the project team together. You will then derive the plan, execute the project, monitor and control it and then close it with the functional manager. In a franchise system, this structure is a common practice. He will do a performance review on you after the project closes and if you were not able to lead the team to keep them on tune with the project, you will get a negative review.

There is a reason why you go through the scope management plan. Its your road map to not follow, dont get it twisted, its there to assist you in leading the team. To what you may ask? Well, there is a product description, work breakdown structure, activity definitions and then there is you. You are there to use these tools and document, review, assess and analyze in order to be able to take measures as needed in order to direct your team to stay on task and stay within the scope in order to be able to deliver the project within time and budget.

Leadership is key and if you were shy in school and never participated in social activities like plays and talent shows or public speeches, its okay. No one said leaders are born yet they are made through experiential learning. In order to lead a franchise, it is important to be able to have a proper franchise system in place. With proper franchise software such as Expresso’s FranchiSoft, you will be able to control and lead franchisees to execute your business process and national marketing initiatives.