For the hundredth or thousandth time, I got pulled into a discussion about whether a project manager needs to be an extrovert. It’s a useless argument. None of the key behaviors that separate struggling project managers from successful ones relate to extroversion or introversion. Here are several effective behaviors that introverted and extroverted project managers […]
Today’s project teams often bring cultural diversity to a project. All your team members need to feel they belong and are accepted. That means cultural sensitivity is an important skill for project managers. Here are tips to help you manage cultural diversity in your projects to improve project outcomes and address culture-related issues that arise. […]
Someone recently asked about the best methodology for managing a research and development (R&D) project. The answer depends on many factors. Here are a few things to consider and the methodologies you might use depending on the nature of your R&D project. Project goals and objectives. R&D projects usually have lots of unknowns. You might […]
Producing a useful product is one aspect of successful project delivery. Considering the thoughts and feelings of stakeholders is just as important because it helps prepare stakeholders for accepting and using your deliverables. Here are four recommendations to help you support your stakeholders’ needs. Find which business areas your project affects. Include specific tasks to […]
You may have defined a project with a set of scope statements. A better approach to defining a project is with a single project objective or goal statement. This statement focuses on the overall goal of the project, which helps obtain stakeholder buy-in. It also helps the organization focus on what the project’s supposed to […]
The pessimism of Eeyore, the gloomy donkey from Winnie-the-Pooh, would be an uninspiring project manager. But unchecked optimism comes off as unrealistic. The key is to be realistically optimistic! Here are ways to find that balance: Use risk management as your basis for optimism. It’s being realistic to acknowledge that projects involve risk. So, foster […]
A project charter defines project scope and describes the responsibilities of the sponsor and project manager. So, you might think the responsibilities section would be as easy as “cut and paste.” Think again! The responsibilities in an ideal charter depend on the experience and expertise of the sponsor and project manager. Here are areas and […]
Are you so focused on your projects that you’ve been ignoring your personal growth as a project manager? You have to be proactive about growing or you’ll stagnate. Pursue challenges, feedback, education, and experiences that will expand your capabilities. Here are some ideas for promoting your growth and improving your project delivery. Exchange ideas with […]
Operational employees who come and go from a project are a common challenge for project managers. Due to their day-to-day business responsibilities, project tasks can become “when time allows” activities — which makes managing a project schedule difficult. Not only do dedicated project team members avoid this situation, they also come with these other […]
Business pressures often lead sponsors to set aggressive deadlines. And meeting those deadlines may be exactly what your organization needs. It’s not an easy situation. As a project manager, your best survival strategy is to set stakeholders’ expectations for what it will take to deliver the project in that timeframe. Let’s look at how […]
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