Proofreader Irina Ignatyeva
Illustrator Dasha Shchegolyutina
© Semyon Kolosov, 2024
© Dasha Shchegolyutina, illustrations, 2024
ISBN 978-5-0064-3202-4
Created with Ridero smart publishing system
Before you start reading this book, I thought I’d write about my experience so you can better understand the context in which my thoughts and conclusions were formed.
My name is Semyon Kolosov. I am a management consultant in IT. I help founders, top managers and executives to organize effective management of strategy, projects, teams and business processes at all the stages: from idea generation to scaling. In addition as a mentor, I help people change their lives and careers for the better through developing soft skills and management development.
Prior to that, I was the COO of a design unit and center of expertise at a company that builds digital products and digital transformation for big tech companies. Even before that, I was there as a project manager and Head of Project Management Office in client projects for digital services development.
I was also engaged in developing and conducting internships and educational programs on people management, project and product approaches, problem-solving and change management, motivation and team management for IT-companies.
Overall, I have 10 years of experience managing projects and teams in digital products, education, consulting and marketing.
I consider project management a prioritized skill in today’s world, so I strive to ensure that everyone can implement a project approach in their lives to achieve the results they want.
To that end, I wrote my first book “System Life” about management for life and work, which has already helped many people. “Your mom’s best friend’s project manager!” – is my second book, and it’s already specifically for project managers and executives. I also run telegram channels about self and project management.
All links and contacts can be found at the end of the book. Subscribe, I will be glad to receive any feedback and new acquaintances.
Enjoy reading!
Inside the psychotherapy room, lost in the hustle and bustle of the city, was a comfortable leather couch filled with pastel colors and fluffy cushions. The room was dimly lit, bookshelves lined the walls, and sitting at a desk with books was Dr. Emily Milestone, a somewhat eccentric psychotherapist known for her unusual approaches.
Mr. Gregory Sprintsky, the CEO of a successful technology company, burst into the office, looking disheveled and agitated. He was breathing heavily, pouring sweat and radiating nervous energy.
Dr. Milestone, watching this show, raised her eyebrows and asked:
Doctor: Good afternoon, Mr. Gregory. What brings you here so urgently today?
Gregory: Doc, I had another dream last night. About the perfect project manager.
Please sit down and tell me more about it.
Gregory: Well, I dreamed of a project manager who could easily handle any project. He was riding a beautiful electric bike smoothly and silently on a quiet road surrounded by beautiful scenery. There was water all around and the people were transfixed with tranquility and harmony. He was organized, adaptable and had cool communication skills. He had a sense of humor. He knew how to make the team laugh and keep morale high even during stressful times. He was a creative problem solver, always coming up with innovative solutions to even the most difficult problems. And he wasn’t afraid to take risks and take responsibility.
Doctor: I understand. How did you feel after that dream?
Gregory: Encouragement. Hope. But also a little anxiety. Because I know that finding a project manager like that is like finding a needle in a haystack. His image is always with me. I can’t avoid him! He’s always there, like a ghost that won’t let me rest! When I walked into my office in the morning, it seemed to me that the furniture had become an exact replica of this perfect project manager’s workplace. My desk, my chair – everything was just as I envisioned it. I tried to change things around, moved furniture around, but nothing worked. That image always found me. In meetings with my employees, they would start talking exactly as I envisioned the ideal project manager in my head. They would say phrases that I had only heard in my mind. Even when I was resting, that image never left me. I saw his face in the clouds, in the fire of a campfire on the beach, even in the stars in the sky. It’s just crazy!
Doctor: Is this perfect project manager with us now, in this room?
Gregory: Yes!
Doctor: Gregory, I’m going to say a phrase that will make you feel better. Calm down, Gregory. Now that you’re calm, describe him more specifically. What does he do? What skills does he possess? What results does he achieve? What makes him the perfect project manager for you? What kind of image is that?
