Projects provide a window into many facets of teamwork. People with different backgrounds, skills, and areas of expertise must come together around a common mission. They need to communicate effectively as they share information, solve problems, work through conflicts, and reach consensus on difficult issues. Each of them brings important knowledge and competencies. Though some…
Project Management Blog
5 Signs Your Project Communications are in Trouble
August 12, 2019 by
Good project communications are a fundamental component of project success. Formal memos, meeting agendas and minutes, quick question-and-answer sessions in the hall—they all contribute to moving your project forward. Your stakeholders need to know what’s happening and what’s scheduled. Your sponsors and the organization’s senior leadership team expect regular updates on progress and notification of…
What Does it Take to Build a Great Project Team?
August 5, 2019 by
Assembling a high-performing project team requires more than a recruiter and a handful of job descriptions. To achieve consistent project success, your group must have the necessary skills and experience to execute the kinds of initiatives your company normally undertakes. They must also be committed to maintaining forward momentum in the face of obstacles and…
Do This Before Your Next Strategic Project
July 31, 2019 by
A strategic project can carry significant risks as well as high expectations. They’re often executed as a series, with several linked initiatives driving the company toward better efficiency, an improved financial status, or a more competitive market position. Strategic projects are high-profile, high-impact, can’t-fail efforts, and your team needs to get them right the first…
Control the Project Ripple Effect: Tips to Get Started
July 29, 2019 by
If you’ve ever run into problems in a project, you probably noticed it wasn’t just a single issue that needed to be resolved. Trouble has a way of snowballing, starting out small before it grows into something big enough to bring progress to a halt. It’s also possible for problems to jump across the project…
What’s Stopping You from Adding Agile to Your Project Mix?
July 16, 2019 by
More companies are considering adding Agile to their project management strategy, and for good reason. Given the increasingly quick pace of business today, a blended approach can bring valuable flexibility to complex efforts. Teams are better able to incorporate testing or iterative releases, for example—activities that are sometimes difficult to forecast or schedule a long…
The Importance of Culture in Project Management Success
July 8, 2019 by
Every organization has a unique company culture. Even a business that appears very similar to others in the marketplace has its own blend of corporate values, maturity, and personality that set it apart. Culture wields wide influence, from shaping the company’s workforce to determining how collaborations are formed. Company culture also has a heavy hand…
4 Signs Your Project Team Needs Better Training
July 3, 2019 by
Issues that are of immediate importance consume much of a PM’s time. This is especially true when the schedule is busy with active projects and additional initiatives are waiting in the wings to launch. Near-term problems such as schedule delays and funding concerns are just a few of the items vying for attention. As a…
How Fear Can Doom Your Project
June 25, 2019 by
Fear is a powerful force. While it can have positive impacts—helping to prod people from inertia into action, for example, or heightening their awareness of potential risks—in project management it often triggers significant negative effects. When fears aren’t addressed and carefully managed, either through a concerted effort spearheaded by a seasoned PM or with the…
Conquer Fear and Enjoy More Project Success
June 21, 2019 by
The influences of fear within the project team can be immense. Uncontrolled anxiety is capable of overwhelming people and putting your initiatives at risk of failure. Fortunately, the right steps can help your group conquer its fears and get back on the road to consistent project success. Addressing and managing fear requires a multi-prong approach….
