Channeling the Power of a Project Management Outsider
I traveled to another office this week to meet with colleagues on their project management best practices. We had several “a-ha” moments as we brainstormed how to improve inefficient processes, better prepare for upcoming projects, and enhance team collaboration. How can project managers channel the power of a project management outsider to improve their existing practices?
The Power of Community Goal Setting
How can teams work together effectively if they don’t understand what each of their colleagues is trying to do? Here are some of the reasons that teams should adopt community goal setting.
How to Network Effectively as a Project Manager
I decided to write a post on how to network effectively as a project manager. I thought about why I find networking relatively straightforward, whereas others have described it as awkward, scary, or ambiguous. Here are some common complaints about networking and how to solve them.
How to Brand Your Projects
Operating on schedule and under budget are hallmarks of successful project management. If you’re doing your job well, no news is good news—but not if you’re trying to shine a spotlight on your fabulous team, cause, and/or yourself. Here are some ideas for how to brand your projects within and outside of your organization.
10 Tips for Project Managers to Communicate with Executives
It’s common knowledge that being able to communicate effectively is a critical skill in today’s job market, particularly for project managers. The more you advance in your career, the more important it becomes to be able to communicate effectively with a particular audience: executives. Here are ten tips for project managers to communicate effectively with executives.
Stealthy Agile Project Management
Even if your organization isn’t ready to be 100% agile, it doesn’t mean that you can’t (stealthily) introduce your clients to agile project management. Here are some ways to introduce agile concepts to your stakeholders without them knowing it.
Spring Cleaning for Project Managers
I previously wrote about how to maintain momentum on your projects to ensure that you continue to make progress against your goals. If you are not where you want to be, the warming weather may offer the inspiration you need for a bout of project spring cleaning. How can project managers spruce up their projects for spring?
The Project Manager Formerly Known as the Subject Matter Expert
In a previous post, I published my failure resume showcasing professional setbacks. One of the items listed was sticking too long with a gig I knew too well. When I made the decision to try something different, a colleague asked me to write a post about what project managers should consider when undertaking a new role.
The Art and Science of Meeting Facilitation
Meeting facilitation is an integral part of a project manager’s job. What does it mean to facilitate a meeting? How do you facilitate a meeting well? And, how can you improve your facilitation skills?
Failure Resume
In the next several months, I’m scheduled to speak on ways that project managers can improve efficiency and boost productivity. Past reactions to this talk are usually something like, “Wow, that’s great! But I’ll never be that organized.” My presentation was not resonating with my audience because I had failed to explain why I have adopted these productivity-boosting techniques. Developing a failure resume could be a great tool to demonstrate this point.
Back to the Future: Goal Setting by Personality Type
I’ve gotten a few requests for a post on how to set goals based on your personality type. It’s all well and good to read about how I set goals as a Type A extrovert—but what strategies can introverted and/or more laidback people pursue to help them accomplish their objectives?
How to Innovate in a Bureaucracy
When you’re operating in any environment larger than a startup, the company will inevitably have some processes in place that ensure things don’t run amok. The question becomes: how do you successfully navigate such an environment to get results? How do you innovate in a bureaucracy?