Practical People Engagement - leading change through a bias to relationships

DIDCOT, U.K. - July 18, 2013 - PRLog -- Written by Patrick Mayfield, who previously co-authored Managing Successful Programmes, this new book is primarily aimed at project managers, although anyone else involved in leading change will find it valuable.

Patrick Mayfield says: "I used to think that the job of project management was essentially about applying certain planning techniques, and controlling projects to those plans; that it was all about plans, documents, tasks and processes. But I don't believe that any more. While such things are important, there is a vital ingredient missing.”

The book, Patrick explains, follows on from research conducted with his colleagues at his own company, pearcemayfield,  into how high performing project and programme managers not only thought differently but actually behaved differently. One of the striking differences was the amount of time they spent in purposeful conversations with key people in and around their projects and programmes. "This time spent investing in relationships was somehow connected to the results they got. It clearly seemed to remove delays, shortened time to delivery and saved costs," he says.

Patrick's  book has caught the attention of the accreditation body, APMG-International, who have chosen it to become the standard reference for a new qualification onsStakeholder engagement. Patrick says: "Although I did not write the book as an exam reference, I am encouraged by this interest from APMG as well as feedback from other quarters.  I have taken pains to make it as accessible as possible for the manager 'in the thick of it'.

A lot of it is to do with taking the fear out of just going and speaking with people."

/ends

NOTES TO EDITORS:

·       Patrick Mayfield is Chairman of pearcemayfield, a leading international provider of consultancy and learning solutions in leadership and change management through projects and programmes.