Learning from Fairytales to Understand Project Stakeholders

By William A Moylan, PhD, PMP, FESD, DTM

Professor Emeritus, Eastern Michigan University

“You must run as fast as you can just to stay where you are. You must run twice as fast as you can to get anywhere.” The Queen of Hearts to Alice

Skip Weisman, a past keynote Symposium speaker for PMI Global and leadership trainer for PMIGLC, recently posted on his blog about an interesting learning experience – his first time reading of the Lewis Carroll classic fairytale Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (Weisman, 1/3/2024). In my response, I posted that this children’s book features characters who mirror common personalities found in the storyland of Project Management. The White Rabbit who angsts over being constantly late. The Cheshire Cat who criticizes everything while blending into the background. The Mad Hatter’s tea party with much ado about nothing. The Queen of Hearts with no heart. Does this not mimic obsession over the project schedule without considering reality, the wallflower critics who offer no solutions to the problems at hand, project meetings without any value added, and executives who constantly abuse to cover their personal inadequacies to manage and to lead?

This article will expound on my blog reply dissecting the subject fairytale’s characters and caricatures, and with assistance from Alice, discover how to effectively deal with project stakeholders.

The White Rabbit/The Rabbit Hole

The common expression “going down the rabbit hole” tends to describe a perilous journey to somewhere unknown, challenging, bizarre, and complex, which will take some mental work to figure out (Lesso, 9/9/2023). Does this not adequately describe the initiation of a new project for the novice Project Manager?

The White Rabbit, the first character Alice encounters after falling down the rabbit hole, is in a state of panic, rushing about, while constantly time-checking his watch shouting “I’m late, I’m late, I’m late.” Alice disarms the hectic scenario with a “Late for what?” Projects Managers are perennially subject to strict schedules. The PM can take a clue from Alice to question unrealistic deadlines from their Project Stakeholders. By addressing honestly their personal anxiety caused by the foolish consternation of being late, and attempting to deal with unfounded schedule dictates and the resulting time pressures, the PM can establish a baseline of integrity and respectful dialogue with their Executive level Stakeholders.

The Cheshire Cat

A complex and contradictory character, the Cheshire Cat brims with a bizarre wide grin and a curious capability to appear and disappear on a whim, peppering Alice with confusing riddles to solve. As she attempts to solve these puzzles, Alice is steered unwittingly toward the Mad Hatter’s tea party.

 

The Cheshire Cat reminds me of various Stakeholder outliers that vexed various projects I was associated with during my checkered career. The resulting project conundrums faced by me did not add any tangible value, and more often needlessly added to the project complexity. Alice and I were both misguided and ill-advised by broad grinning Stakeholders whom we should have dismissed or at least held at arm’s length.

 

The Mad Hatter

Alice fumbles through Wonderland unwittingly finding a seat at the table of the Mad Hatter and his outdoor Tea Party. In attendance, the curious characters include Alice, the arrogant Mad Hatter, the March Hare [aka the White Rabbit obsessing over being late], and a sleepy Dormouse. All are mad except (hopefully) Alice and the sleepy Dormouse (who is only mad when he is awake).

 

The self-important, erratic behavior of the Mad Hatter punctuates his Tea Party as the perfect metaphor of organizational bureaucracy run amok. Holding meetings for the sake of having a meeting, where the minutes are duly taken, and the hours are lost. Alice keeps her head throughout the inane banter and departs at an appropriate time, which is good advice for the PM to heed.

 

Queen of Hearts

“Off with their heads!” bellows the Queen of Hearts. Rigid and dogmatic, she leads Wonderland through fear and ruthless authority. The domineering Queen with tyrannical power never actually carries out any of the executions she orders. Rather, the Queen of Hearts is merely a playing card with no real power. Sound familiar?

 

Ruthless executives and managers who dole out endless rules, attempt to lead through intimidation and fear, and threaten subordinates with harsh punishment, will always prove to be ineffective. The important role for the PM is to lead their team and not berate them.

The professional of project management can learn much about effectively dealing with project stakeholders from Alice as she journeyed through the magical world of Wonderland. My PM musing: should Alice's Adventures in Wonderland should be required reading for all PMPs and students of project management?

As always, your questions, comments, and criticisms are welcome. Feel free to contact me in care of email: William.moylan@emich.edu

Best regards,

Dr. Bill

William A Moylan, PhD, PMP, FESD, DTM

Professor Emeritus, Eastern Michigan University / Principal, WA Moylan & Associates

 

References

Lesso, R. {Sept. 9, 2023). “What Are the Most Important Symbols in Alice in Wonderland? The Collector. https://www.thecollector.com/what-are-the-most-important-symbols-in-alice-in-wonderland/

 

Weisman, S. (Jan. 3, 2024). Skip's Adventures With "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland". The Leadership Communication Expert. https://www.skipweismanauthor.com/post/skip-s-adventures-with-alice-s-adventures-in-wonderland