Human Resources is Magic.

Human resource management encompasses motivation techniques, empathic listening, responsibility assignment matrices, project organizational charts, and team building exercises. The processes involved are developing a human resource plan, acquiring the project team, developing the project team, and managing the project team.  In a nutshell, human resource management is about motivation and networking.  These are the same lessons learned by Twilight Sparkles in my little pony friendship is magic.  In the first episode, Twilight Sparkles develops a human resources plan as she is tasked by her queen to prepare for a celebration and to go learn about friendship.  Twilight Sparkles ignores the later objective.  However, when she finally realizes the importance of the team, she is able to save pony land by assembling the elements of harmony.  Thus, she displayed the importance of assembling the right team and managing them effectively. 

               Motivation is a big part of human resources.   Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is the first step in motivating people.  This theory states that people’s behaviors are guided or motivated by a sequence of needs.  If a persons physiological and safety needs are not met, they are not very likely to care about accomplishing a project.  Unless, that project fulfills those needs.   Many managers use their various powers, coercive, legitimate, expert, reward and referent power, while forgetting about the basic needs.   While these methods may work temporarily, you must address a person’s underlying needs for them to remain effective. 

               Networking is something at which I am not very good.  Why is networking important?   Well networking can be basically summed as building relationships that can assist you in the future.   In general, people are more sympathetic to people they know.  By creating these human networks, you can better influence external organizations.  This can make it easier to assemble the team, since well-established connections with sections heads means they will cooperate more and will be more prone to give you competent team members.  Remember as a project manager, you will often see the functional organizational structure in which you have the least amount of power.  This kind of structure means a more heavy reliance on section heads.

             

              Learn from Twilight Sparkles and understand, “Friendship is magic.”