Disobedient Talk

A key to a long, successful career in project management is to not worry about stuff you can’t control. But that doesn’t mean you should do nothing about them! While I can’t give you a magic potion to help you manage things you can’t influence,…

So, when was the last time you, as a project manager, believed you had too much authority? I suspect that hasn’t happened often, if at all. Believe it or not, as a project manager, expanding your authority is possible with the right approach. Here’s how…

You can’t always count on key stakeholders to make decisions that are in the project’s best interest. In some cases, those decisions are appropriate, keeping the big picture of the overall business in mind. When that isn’t the case, the project manager must push back…

Are your employees showing up as their authentic selves at work? Many people feel compelled to wear a “game face” in the office – essentially putting on a mask that hides their authentic personality. When employees feel they can’t bring their whole selves to work,…

Projects solicit many opinions and viewpoints. Good project managers seek these viewpoints and use them to evaluate alternatives and make clear decisions. However, this can get tricky when your preferred approach to addressing an issue conflicts with the approach of a respected team member. Here…

Fairness is one of the values cited in the Project Management Institute’s (PMI) Code of Ethics. To satisfy this requirement, perspective-taking is necessary. Fairness is not something you can judge for yourself. What you believe to be fair may not seem fair to someone else….

A key to a long, successful career in project management is to, as the saying goes, not worry about stuff you can’t control. But that doesn’t mean you should do nothing about those things! While I can’t give you a magic potion to help you…

Product serviceability is a quality aspect of project deliverables that isn’t discussed frequently enough.Serviceability means that access to help, repairs, and maintenance of the project’s products is easy to obtain and efficiently executed. Here are tips to ensure your project’s products are serviceable. Produce diagnostic…

I enjoy watching the power of innovation in project management. Innovation-focused project managers are better equipped to navigate challenges, drive success, and deliver exceptional results. Here are a few key strategies that help project managers foster innovation while managing projects. Treat projects like growth opportunities….

A friend mentioned that his project manager was “born for the job.” He said his PM has lived his whole life acting, sounding, and BEING like a project manager in whatever he does. That started some thinking about how exactly a project manager behaves. Here…

Many things can hamper a project, but none are as impactful as a conflict between senior leaders. While project managers usually can’t resolve those conflicts themselves, there are things they can do to manage the situation. Here are things project managers can do about potential conflicts…

Projects create change. Ensuring that stakeholders fully understand the change is critical for success. The best way to do this is to create a picture of the change in their minds. Here’s what must be included in that picture. The job changes stakeholders will see. …