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Instructor Q & A

Background

Peggy Jo Wallis, an ESI International instructor since 1996, is a trainer and consultant with more than 26 years of experience working with corporate, government and educational groups. In her work, Wallis focuses on topics such as change management, team building, communication and conflict resolution. As an ESI instructor, Peg has been specializing in project management leadership classes as well as ESI instructor training programs called Charisma.

Her teaching style and classroom successes have earned her rave reviews from students and kudos from The American Society of Training and Development (ASTD). ASTD honored Peg with the 1999 Independent Entrepreneurial Training and Development Professional award for her ability to meet client needs and to creatively establish believability and rapport with her audiences.

A former theater major in college with an advanced degree in educational psychology and learning theory, Wallis' approach to the classroom combines a sense of fun and acceptance. Her teaching tools include a 60-pound suitcase full of props - oversized sunglasses, props and other items - she uses to enhance learning, generate discussions and increase participation in class. "I manage to bring the theater into the class," she jokes.

ESI asked Wallis during a visit to ESI headquarters about her experiences in the ESI classroom and insights on teaching successful project management leadership.

1. What do you think the biggest misconception is about project leadership?

"I think people come into a project leadership class expecting it to be 'touchy feely' and easy but this is the hardest work you'll ever do. Leadership encompasses everything from developing self-awareness to team building, conflict management and nurturing employees. Leadership is about how aware you are of yourself and what you bring into the interaction.

When you're the leader of a project, you have to be willing to engage in 'straight talk' with your team. You have to be willing to discuss how you manage and ask your team about their working style. How do they want to handle conflict? How do they work best? In the technical fields, it's (straight talk) that's often uncomfortable for a lot of folks because it's not their area. They fear overstepping boundaries."

2. What's the most common mistake project leaders make?

"Most people in project management will tell you, the predominant reason projects fail are people issues. People put the teams together based on the specifications of the project but they never think about the people part. That will cost you every time. You're going to have problems if people don't know the goals and don't know what's expected of them."

3. What's the question you hear the most in the classroom?

"It would have to be the question, 'Are individuals born leaders or do they become leaders?' I always say anyone has the ability to become a more effective leader. There are different ways of being a leader. The neat thing about leadership is you don't have to be given a title. You can lead at any level of the organization."

4. What do you hope people will get out of the classes you teach?

"At the end of the class, I want people to feel like they know what position they're coming from in terms of their point of view in communicating, problem solving and conflict. I want them to be open to the fact that other people may be arriving from another place and that they have tools to create a bridge."

5. Students in your ESI courses say they enjoy your presentation of the material. What's your approach to teaching?

"I want to practice the spirit of the leadership lessons we're trying to teach in class. I honor people's way of being in class. If you're quiet, fine. If you're highly interactive, great. The design of the class is to use every style of communicating and make it meaningful."

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