The Journey
This week I shared with you some quotes that have helped to inspire me through some tumultuous times. I find they make me feel energized and able to inspire others and pave the forward when ‘things go wrong’. And, things almost always go wrong in projects – don’t they? So, in addition to [...]
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Sometimes, you have to break the rules to get things done!
As we go through our lives we are subjected to numerous rules – as kids, as students, as workers and as adults living our everyday lives. As program managers and leaders, part of our responsibilities is to lay down some rules by which to guide [...]
Are you working with a ‘can do’ or ‘cant do’ project team?
We have all been in both kinds of teams. The difference in potential energy is enormous. And, what a difference that makes to team dynamics and project results! ‘Can do’ teams seem invincible, welcome challenges and proudly talk about the battles fought and won. [...]
Do you really want to wrestle a pig?
It is interesting how sometimes the signs in the universe all seem to converge and lead you down a certain path. Today was such a day. As you know, I have committed this week to sharing with you my inspirational quotes that have helped guide my career and provide [...]
Me – try to inspire – but why?
So, here we are – another Monday. Many of us traditionally start Monday on a low note. Back to the grind, back to the routine – same old. We will likely have the first of many project meetings on Mondays. Will you just go through the motions of [...]
I truly believe in continuous improvement. In today’s world standing still really translates into regression. I apply that continuous improvement to different areas of my life: I keep pursuing knowledge on scuba diving in general and its physiology in specific, I am planning to improve my technical skills of motorcycling this year, I learn new [...]
We all have been in the situation where a customer or team member asks to add a feature or upgrade the quality of a certain item. We often agree to do these favors because we find ourselves unable to say “no”—driven by our desire to please or a preconceived notion that we do not have [...]
We are living in a world that gets more and more global. You don’t need to travel to get exposed to it. Most likely you have colleagues, neighbors or friends who have been born in a different country or whose parents are from a different country. Being born and raised in the Netherlands, it always [...]
Where to Go From Here?
I realize that most of us will never face the challenges confronted by Gene Kranz, NASA Flight Director, on Apollo 13, but the mental exercise is worth doing. If you haven’t seen the movie, or have seen it and view it as entrainment at the time, I suggest renting it and [...]
Rallying the Team from a Bump in the Night
For the rare situation where the project plan comes to an abrupt, premature end or dead stop, it is your time to show everyone what real leadership is. At this point the whole team, and more, are looking for someone to rally them and provide direction on [...]
Process for Handling the Dips in the Road
The majority of unexpected situations that hit a project during its execution are dips in the road to closure; a leader can certainly prepare both themselves and a process for the team, to deal with these.
As the project leader you own the solution/decision process, like any of [...]
Who is Solving the Problems and Making the Decisions?
The question on the table is, will we have the right person(s) solving the problem and/or making the decision, when needed?
The volume of problems/decisions seen by a project is probably somewhat pyramid in shape, with the bulk lying with individual SMEs and, hopefully, precious few with the [...]
Are you prepared to cope when things go bump in the night?
As project managers we have become proficient in transforming the project charter (in whatever form we get it) into a project plan (hopefully, including some risk management) and then charging through plan execution to closure. But, what happens when thing go bump in the [...]
Here are some additional suggestions on what to know, do and think about to keep you focused and successful when launching a PMO.
All too often PMO Leaders immediately launch into design and set-up before understanding the FULL picture. Here are some additional suggestions on what to know, do and think about to keep you focused and successful.
I rarely make resolutions for the New Year. I broke the practice of listing too many lofty goals with unrealistic deadlines and little moral support years ago. Now, I maintain a continuous checklist of What to Know, Do, and Think About in support of my success. You can do the same when launching a Project [...]
Dear Diary –
Well, it’s been quite a week. After 7 days of heightened attention on my interpersonal communication skills I can’t say I feel I’ve made much progress. Aside from some encouraging email from a few friends cheering me on in my (decades old) quest to improve myself, there’s no indication that a complete transformation [...]
Dear Diary -
In the “Dear Diary #2” blog I made a commitment to re-engineer my relationship with my dad – getting unstuck from the past conversation swirling around in my head about him. (Perhaps you made a similar commitment to doing that with a colleague or boss after reading that blog?) After recognizing that the [...]
Dear Diary -
Well, I might have gone overboard with my focus on possibility thinking and commitment to action in conversations… So far this week I’ve envisioned 3 outrageous breakthroughs for myself, arm-twisted 7 friends or relatives to swear an oath to manifesting their own ridiculous goals, and committed myself to a half dozen preposterous projects [...]
Dear Diary -
For Christmas one of my closest friends gave me a dish towel that says “Being unstable and b-tchy is just part of my mystique.” Knowing that there is truth in sarcasm, and understanding the importance of good communication skills and positive relationships to project success, I’ve decided to recommit myself to improving my [...]
The very first day of 2010 and of a new decade!! Wishing you an amazing, loving, successful and unforgettable year!!
During the past holidays I was staying with a friend of mine who has a six year old. Of course, we ended up watching a lot of children’s movies. One of them was Nemo which, as [...]
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