Have you ever seen a Project Manager, that you would describe as someone having the magic touch? It would probably be someone that has demonstrated the ability to pull things off (even small things) that you don’t understand exactly how they were possible to achieve. Producing results repeatedly, acting both at the small and at the large, and resulting in small and larger achievements that come together in a mysterious almost magical way to contribute to (project) success. However, there is nothing metaphysical about this magic touch, as it is nothing more than the result of the many small (seemingly insignificant) decisions and actions which allow the Project Manager to do the right things, at the right time, and for the right reasons and in line with the project management goals. Their actions are strategically prioritized, tactically pertinent, and aligned with lower and higher order goals which come together in synchronicity. In this presentation we will discuss the main characteristics, qualities and powers of a Project Manager with the Magic Touch (PMwMT). Effective Intelligence (FI) and professional and ethical virtues will also be discussed as critical areas that enable project managers maintain balance and those necessary behaviours that enable them to manage projects with a bit of a “magic touch”.

1. Beyond the Basics:
The Project Manager with the magic touch
#developYourPMmagic
Nicos Kourounakis
MASc, MBA, PMP, IPMA-D, PM2
Dec 2016

2. Agenda
• Introduction
• Breaking the ice and defining the context
• Exploring the what, who, how, why
• Concluding thoughts

3. Scene 1: Ze girl without the “magic touch”
- Ze girl? She seems like a very nice girl. She "playz" monsieur,
like a very nice girl. However, it ztinks! Her playing, very
polite. Mistake, no. It says E-flat, she plays E-flat. Ping-ping.
Hit ze right note, always, very proper.
- Look, monsieur, play the piano, is not about ze fingers.
"Done" with the fingers, yes. But ze music, she is inside.
Inside, monsieur.
- Ah, but zis is just what I cannot teach…
I cannot teach h‘er to have a soul.
- Zen you listen to me, for I am expert. Ze girl, she give me a
headache. She cannot “play”. Nice girl. Very clever hands.
Someday, I sink, maybe, she make a very good typist.
Ping-ping, ..voila!
Adapted from: The Man Who Wasn't There (film), The Coen Brothers

4. The PM with the Magic Touch
Have you ever seen one?

5. Etymology of Manage-ment

6. Scene 2: Project Status Meeting
Here is what
I’ll do…
No need to explain George.
…just go do your magic!
Project
Manager
Project
Owner

7. What is “magic”?
A phenomenon that describes that which cannot be
explained by the visible, the apparent, the perceived;
that which cannot be explained or understood with
the information available.
There is nothing supernatural about it...
https://kourounakis.wordpress.com/2016/10/20/the-project-manager-with-the-magic-touch

8. How do they do it?
1. First of all they know its possible, and they have a unique ability
to visualize and design their act.
2. They develop the skills needed to perform their act and shift all
lights to the effect (keeping their actions in the dark).
3. Above all, they want to do it - they have a strong motivation
to bring all of the above together and deliver their magic results.
4. They keep improving.
The legerdemainists (magicians) perform their act with admirable skill
and ease. But how do they do it?

9. What is “the magic touch”?
The Project Manager with the magic touch, doesn’t have
any metaphysical powers.
• There is a lot of hard work involved in delivering project
management magic.
• Their magic is nothing more than the result of the many small
(seemingly insignificant) decisions and actions:
• do the right things
• at the right time
• for the right reasons

10. Project Managers with the magic touch
There is something artistic in the nature of their management.
• They know how the lines connect in the future…
• They achieve a productive balance between managing short term and
longer term goals and activities.
• their actions are strategically prioritised,
tactically pertinent, and aligned with lower
and higher order goals which come together
in synchronicity producing "the magic".

11. The PM with the Magic Touch:
1. Builds on the basics of PM
2. Applies O2PM
3. Manages CSFs
4. Defines MVP & CSC
5. Manages Perception
6. Establishes Enablers
Let's look at these one by one:

12. 1 of 6: Build on the PM Basics
Project Management Competences are the foundation:
• Technical Skills
• People Skills
• Perspective Skills
Result:
• All the ingredients are available
• Its now a “matter of recipe”
Where is the difference between
a coffee with milk and a cappuccino?

13. 2 of 6: Practice O2PM
O2PM = Outcomes Oriented Project Management
• Outcome orientation of every decision and action taken
• Integrate the what/why/how (outcome & journey)
Result:
• Provides context and allows for holistic thinking
• Brings perspective for effective decision making
• Makes the journey productive and as valuable as the outcomes
• Enables better buy-in, engagement, creativity
Outputs Outcomes BenefitsProject

14. 3 of 6: Define MVP & CSC
M
C
S
W
M
C
S
W
MVP = Minimum Viable Product
CSC = Critical Success Criteria
Result:
• Manage priorities (MoSCoW)
• Free-up time for the important
• Better impact analysis and synergies
• Optimise value
• Set realistic expectations

15. 4 of 6: Manage CSFs
CSF = Critical Success Factors
What would you do to sabotage this project?
…then do the exact opposite.
Result:
• Set project management priorities
• Better risk management
• Free-up time for the important
• Avoid false efficiencies
• Navigate through office politics
• Better decision making and tradeoffs

16. 5 of 6: Manage Perception
Managing Perception ≠ Deception
Goal
"Their"
Perception
"Your"
Plan

17. 6 of 6: Establish Enablers
1. External (project environment, culture, team, etc.)
• Results orientation
• Agility
• Trust
• Working with not for
2. Internal
• Enabling Mindsets
• Value creation
• Holistic thinking
• Productive behaviours
Nicos.Kourounakis@gmail.com @nkouroun

18. Graceful and seemingly effortless…
Simplicity in the essential

19. Productive Balances
Purpose
Process People
Plan
Perception
Pleasure
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x

20. (More) Productive Balances
implementation vs delegation
important vs urgent
short term vs long term
strategic vs tactical
transactional vs transformational
control vs participatory decision making
Balance:

21. How much?
Adapt your “magic touch” for the different project management roles.
• PMO Member
• Project Director
•Account Manager
• PMO Manager
• Programme Management
• Project Portfolio Manager
• Project Team Member
• Assistant Project Manager
• Junior Project Manager
• Project Manager
• Senior Project Manager
Project Management
Consultant
Freelance Project
Manager (hired gun)!

22. Internal Resistances (Disablers)
Before you can do magic, you need to first deal with internal resistances.
• Explore your virtues profile:
• Courage
• Generosity
• Honours (desire for…)
• Judgment
• Fairness, temperance, humor,
magnanimity
• …
Read more here:
https://kourounakis.wordpress.com/2015/03/21/aristotle-on-effective-intelligence

23. Kourounakis@bmc-global.com @nkouroun
www.caveapproach.com

24. Concluding Summary
• There is a magic touch in many things that
we do: there is a magic touch in Project
Management as well.
• This magic is not supernatural, nothing
metaphysical about it.
• #developyourPMmagic
Nicos.Kourounakis@gmail.com @nkouroun

25. The simplest Action Plan
Nicos.Kourounakis@gmail.com @nkouroun

26. Concluding Summary
• Know that “magic” is possible.
• Develop the skills.
• Make the connections.
• Be motivated: go beyond the standard motions.
• …because every project is part of your journey.
Nicos.Kourounakis@gmail.com @nkouroun

27. Beyond the Basics:
The Project Manager with the magic touch
#developYourPMmagic
Nicos Kourounakis
MASc, MBA, PMP, IPMA-D, PM2
Dec 2016
http://www.linkedin.com/in/NicosKourounakis
http://www.effective-intelligence.org
http://www.scoop.it/u/NicosKourounakis
http://www.scoop.it/t/effective-intelligence
https://twitter.com/nkouroun

28. Profile of Nicos Kourounakis, MASc, MBA, PMP, IPMA-D, PM2
http://www.linkedin.com/in/NicosKourounakis
Nicos also has several years of experience in training and public speaking. As an Adjunct Professor at the Professional MBA program of the
Hellenic American University in Athens, Greece, he has taught courses and delivered seminars in Project Management, Portfolio
Management, Operations & Supply Chain Management and Management of Information Systems.
He has also been involved with PMI both as a speaker at the 2011 PMI Global Project Management Congress in Dublin, as a Keynote
speaker at the PMI BeLux Congress (2013), and as an elected Vice President of the Board of Directors of the PMI Chapter in Athens,
Greece (2008-2011).
Nicos holds an MBA from McGill University, Montreal, Canada, a MASc in Electrical Engineering from the University of Victoria, Canada,
and a BSc in Physics from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. Nicos is also one of the first 100 professionals to be certified in
PMI’s Organizational Project Management Maturity (OPM3), a PMI certified Project Management Professional (PMP), an IPMA Certified
Project Manager Level-D, a PRINCE2 and PM² Practitioner.
Nicos Kourounakis is a Project Management Consultant specializing in Project Management Methodologies and
Organizational Project Management Maturity. He is a PM Methodology Expert and the Co-Author of the PM²
Project Management Methodology Guide of the European Commission.
Nicos has been involved in many international projects in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland,
Belgium, Austria and Greece, working both with large organizations and with smaller ventures and start-ups.

29. • Have the ability to relate to the goals of the project. Have an agenda - the right agenda. Are
passionate about producing (more) value. Correctly identify the project’s Critical Success Factors
(CSF) and prioritise management actions strategically.
• Work on the big picture while appreciating the fact that small actions and decisions contribute to the
big picture goals. Are able to create a big picture from synergistically associating seemingly
independent small pictures, facts, and relationships. Can make connections, create scenarios,
extrapolate and “see the future”, the consequences and the benefits of project decisions/actions.
• Add the necessary spices for creating the ideal project mix in terms of both project goals and team
members, process, etc.
• Adapt the boundaries of their responsibilities and influence to the right level.
Bonus Slide1: Project Managers with the magic touch:

30. • Balance WIIFM with WIIFT.
• Scan and correctly decipher the stakeholder and power structures and work with
or around “office” politics.
• Surround themselves with the right people and seek the advice of competent advisors.
• Avoid false efficiency - they seek efficiency only in the context of effectiveness.
• Achieve synergies and optimise available resources based on the strategic value of goals.
• Have negotiating skills and take calculated (smart) risks. Apply timely and intuitive decision-
making.
• Get to know the right people and create deep symbiotic relationships; they maintain
productive and balanced credit/debit relationships.
Bonus Slide2: Project Managers with the magic touch: