PMcrunch

In the hassle and buzzle of day to day work life, of course mixed with a busy personal life, we need to remember that our team members also have their own personal goals, aspirations and challenges. There are many things we can do related to this but the first step is always awareness. Here are [...]

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When we set-up a project team for a new project or if we take over an existing project, we have an opportunity and a responsiblity to create new norms and a new atmosphere in which project team members can flourish.

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Depending on your environment, you may have some team members that seem like non-contributors, and in some ways actually get in the way. While I have never experienced this – or at least not for long – on the smaller more critical projects I have managed, I do see this on larger more matrix-oriented projects. The question is, “How can I handle this?”

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I just completed a great book that was so stimulating, thought-provoking, and inspiring that I had to write about it here.  By the way, it does apply totally to the project management field.  But it also applies to all of life, as it is a great story of life.  Greg Mortenson has taken on life [...]

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There is a simple and basic attitude that we, as leaders on our projects and programs, can adopt that will make all the difference in the world. That thing is the idea of engaging openly and creatively with our team members as opposed to either seeking constant agreement or taking an authoritarian stance.

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In any organization of any size and in any industry, politics is a reality. The word politics is, I would say, very definitely perceived differently by different people. Some perceive it positively, and perhaps as a game; others perceive it negatively as something to be avoided. Let’s take a closer look at the reality of politics.

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We heard it said many times that people skills are very important. However, we do see a great emphasis, whether it is in project management frameworks, or MBA programs, or Six Sigma, or any other approaches that there is a noticeable lack of people skill development embedded in the program.

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Often times in our careers, we feel stuck or stalled, whether in our organization, department, career, or even personal lives. One thing that we can do is to take a good hard look at what it might be that has us stuck. Then identify a problem, or opportunity, and start a project around it!

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Time off is not just a luxury. It’s a responsibility of leadership for project managers and program managers. Especially in summer, where schedules tend to be a little lighter, it is easier to take some time off and connect with others who also are taking time off. Taking time off helps us personally, as well as our families and social relationships, but it is also a big gain for members of our project team, as everyone appreciates an organization that acknowledges and values time outside of work.

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How does the emergence of Web 2.0 collaborative capabilities and networks effect the organizational landscape, and how does that effect project and program managers? I think the key to answering this question is to look at what is happening to interpersonal relationships, power centers, and influence within organizations to see how this is changing as a result of this emerging development. I find that we can gain insights into this by observing from the following point of view: a. Organization charts are the way the organization is “supposed” to be, and b. Web 2.0 collaboration reveals relationships, and hence organization structure, as it really is. Let’s explore…

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