Sorry, but I Still Don't Get What You Do
The idea for this post came from two different sources. One of those sources is a good friend from when I was still a project manager in the making. (Early warning signs: my friends referred to me as "the glue" keeping our high school crew together. And, I wouldn't let anyone touch my day planner.) The other is the person who hired me for my first, official PM gig.
Automation: The Future of Project Management
In an age of driverless cars, UAVs, and smart cities, robots appear to be on the rise. Project managers already suffer from a perception that we are unnecessary, costly appendages—substituting us with a mechanical appendage, therefore, may pose a very real threat.
What If?
Leaving the methodologies of waterfall or agile or hybrid aside, what are the core elements of project management that every PM needs to know? I've been pondering that question for a few weeks now, when building block #1 came to me. And that is the simple question: "what if?" That question should guide everything that project managers do.
Stealthy Performance Measurement
Like most project management jargon, the term "performance measurement" makes the activity involved sound way more complicated than it actually is. Upon hearing this phrase, most clients will picture a series of lengthy working sessions that generate a set of metrics ultimately destined for a life of obscurity on someone's hard drive. How can we simplify performance measurement for our project management averse clients?
Project Management Anti-Resolutions
As part of my typical New Year's retrospective, I'm becoming increasingly obsessed with the idea of anti-resolutions...or the things that we PMs should stop doing. Read on for a list of my project management anti-resolutions for 2018.
True Confessions of a PM: Rant Against the Gantt
True confessions of a PM: I don't get Gantt charts. While I don't dispute the need for project updates, what I do dispute is the tired Gantt chart view that we churn out without thinking. When a project sponsor asks for a Gantt chart, consider what he or she really wants to see.
The Truth about Project Management
Why does PM get such a bad rap?? I decided to stand up for my chosen profession and debunk some of the stereotypes about what it means to be a project manager. Here are some of my favorites, some of which people have actually said to me in meetings!
Gotta Catch 'Em All: How to Develop a Comprehensive Stakeholder List
One of my readers asked me how project managers can make sure they're not forgetting about any key project stakeholders as they're preparing for a kickoff meeting. Here's how I'd recommend catching them all to develop a comprehensive stakeholder list.
What Not to Do When Managing a Global Project
Managing an international project may seem like a breeze. Exotic work locations and the potential for high-impact results? Who wouldn't want to sign up? But, if you're a seasoned PM, the words "high-impact" and "exotic" likely conjure up another dreaded project phrase...and that's "high risk." How do you mitigate those risks to have a successful international engagement?
Killin’ it at Project Kickoffs
You just landed an exciting project with a brand new client. You've labored over the proposal, dreamed about clinching the win, and assembled your dream team. The client kickoff meeting is fast approaching, and your stomach is in knots. Now what? Here are some tips for killing it at your next kickoff meeting.
Innovation in Project Management
If we are seeking to innovate our products or service offerings, it only makes sense that we should seek to innovate the processes that underpin their successful delivery. For a stodgy old profession like PM, so-called "out of the box" thinking can be challenging. So, how do we innovate in project management?
True Confessions of a PM: Cost Estimating Makes Me Nervous
True confessions of a PM here on this unseasonably warm Saturday morning: cost estimating scares me. I'm an international economist and have never exceeded a project budget in my 9-year career, but something about the idea of predicting what a project will cost and managing to that budget terrifies me.