Bike Messenger/Project Manager

Would a bike messenger make a good project manager? I don't think so. Let me tell you why.

At the end of a work day last winter, as I was headed to Union Station (http://www.chicagounionstation.com) to catch the train home, I was almost taken out by a bike messenger who ran a red light as I crossed Wacker Drive. After thanking God that there was no collision -- we both would have lost big time -- I thought about an application in project management.

Sometimes in our efforts to deliver a project on-time, we can get into a bit of a heads-down, blinders-on, singular focus. And while some of that might be needed on a project, it can be dangerous. If project leaders and team members are not regularly looking around and thinking through issues and risks inside and outside the project, the chance for a delay, a negative quality impact, a budget hit, etc. increases. Worse yet, what if more than one project takes the heads-down, not looking around approach? There may be a big collision coming that could impact multiple projects.

Straight-ahead speed is not the only thing needed to deliver a project. Make sure you are looking around, checking the mirrors for others. Keep your eyes up for yellow lights, let alone red lights. And heed them. Have your project team members do the same. Help them to do so. Otherwise you could be the bike messenger -- er, project manager -- speeding for that last delivery of the day, going through a red light and taking yourself and others out, because you assumed everyone would see you and your "obviously the most important of all" delivery coming.

One final point. Whether you are a former bike messenger wanting to move into a project manager position or vice versa, I recommend you think twice before including that experience on your resume.