long time listener, first time caller

To coin an overused idiom, there's no time like the present, so here's my virgin entry to the wide world of project management blogs.

I am a project manager of 10 years experience, predominately in the world of software development in the Internet space, and have recently moved into telecommunications. This does not make me an expert in anything (some would say that's a fair definition of a project manager), however as an observer in what would be probably the second oldest profession over the last decade, I'm still learning the ropes and hope to provoke a dialogue or two with my ramblings.

Today's missive is an intro, but will leave with a thought. A passing comment with an engineer this morning regarding a colleague picking up a tired project, that they were butting heads. He, an old hand, the PM a cocky young buck. If it's all about relationship, what is it about the makeup of a lot of PMs that makes them who they are and do what they do? Is an arrogant streak a desirable trait or a phase of PM development that we all go through, get over, master, then utilise as a tool set? We are taught (if PMs are ever really taught) to utilise what strengths we have - be they knowledge, discipline, temperament etc in order to control situations. Is arrogance or perceived arrogance a tool? Or is it the ego talking? Are we control freaks under the covers or are we just looking to please?

I think by nature, a good PM has this inherent desire to please - it is part of the make up of who we are and what we do. This is why we take failure so hard, and make every effort to avoid this. So much of project management practice is devoted to risk management, which partnered with the desire to achieve a successful outcome may make us come across as the arrogant control freaks we are teased about being. The truth I think is yes - we are the cocky young bucks, but this is a step in the development of a good project manager. To outgrow this means to stop caring about delivery, an element of the young buck needs to remain, however as with all tools it needs to be controlled. Use this desire to please in order to progress, to get your desired outcome, tone the arrogance and use it sparingly, otherwise, as most young bucks learn, butting heads with your elders typically results in one thing, a headache.