Learning How to Be a Project Manager

Project and Team Management was an amazing class. Nicholas Carver is a great professor and approaches team building in a wonderful and inspiring way. My original goal for this class, created in my Mastery Timeline, was to learn how to manage a project or a team. This month did not disappoint and I was definitely afforded the opportunity to do this. Nick taught the class the valuable skill to recognize the types of people we could work with. We utilized both the DiSC and Myers Briggs personality tests to be able to see how we can overcome potential obstacles within the character of a person. Most importantly I can recognize these potential obstacles within myself. We were also shown potential risks associated with a project and good practices to solve conflicts. I really enjoyed the team building exercises that gave us the chance to come together as a class and the multitudes of amazing guest industry professionals that reiterated his teachings.

 One of the industry professionals I was able to meet was Connor Smith, the founder and president of Studio18, a recording studio based here in Orlando, Florida. Shortly after the introduction, I took a tour of the facility and later that night I was awarded with an internship in the management track.  Being in the studio, I can clearly see the different personalities at play and witness first hand how management deals with them all. Aside from the Internship, I am currently volunteering for an event that Nick is directing, called Miami Nights. The event will showcase songs heard in Miami during the 80’s. Some include, Sade’s Sweetest Taboo, Tito Puente’s Oyé Como Va, and Gloria Estefan’s, Rhythm Is Gonna Get You, just to name a few. There will be a live band and singers covering the songs as well as dancers performing routines created for each track. I am given a chance to apply the skills learned during class. I can literally see how the Dominant, Influence, Steadfast and Compliant personality traits affect each other as we try to get the show ready. This class has met and exceeded my goals. The most important lesson I learned is: my personality is perfect for team management and this gives me validation that I am on the right track.