Skill Sharpener Item #19

I meet with the supervisor(s) of time-critical project participants to ensure that their participation in the project will be prioritized (competing assignments will not significantly conflict with project work).

Outstanding! Here are some of the benefits you've probably received because you get supervisors to make specific time commitments for their direct reports when you need a particular person doing potentially showstopping work on your project:

Because most project work is 'voluntary' (the time to do it is bootlegged from the job-description-driven work day), you protect your project from the negative effects that a supervisor's competing, priority work might have on results and relationships.

You avoid violating the naturally occurring 'territoriality' rights that reporting relationships define by asking for the blessing of supervisors whose job performance ratings depend on the best use of their direct reports.

You help participants and supervisors alike manage their time more effectively.

You keep participants from ending up in the middle of a dispute between you and their supervisor.