Best of PM Network 2007 - Growing Pains

This article was put together by Janet Liao in the February 2007 edition of PM Network, in the “Best of Congress Papers” feature. This is about work done by Laura Aziz, Ph.D., PMP and Bruce Woerner, PMP on PMO maturity. I really enjoyed the model they use, with 4 components and 4 life stages in an analogy growing from babies to adults. (more…)

Happy New Year!

As the guest blogger for the switch from 2007 to 2008, I wanted to do a series of posts looking back over 2007. This week you will see my “Best of PM Network”, reviewing the articles and features that struck me to be “kinda cool”. My methods of determining what’s “kinda cool” are mysterious, even to myself. So sit back, buckle your seat belt, and get ready for an arbitrary ride through PM Network, 2007. It may get a little bumpy. (Although I promise to not post while enjoying New Years Eve intoxication.)

If you are not currently a member of PMI, I recommend it highly and PM Network is one of the many membership benefits.

The list below will serve as an index to the series. Happy New Year!

• Growing Pains
• Bridging the Gap
• Master Plan
• Small Projects, Big Results
• Competency Versus Connections
• The Afterlife
• Go, Team, Go!

Create Your Project Management Career Development Plan Now

Rosemary Hossenlopp, MBA PMP © 2007 All Rights Reserved

If you don’t want the project manager same job you had last year, you need to plan differently this year. So make a new years resolution to create a project management development plan.

What Do I Focus On?
In the last blog, you identified success factors that are your top priorities. Your success factors improve your visibility or skills. But how do you turn these success factors you identified into a promotion or new job? Ok, here is an example.

Here are some success factors that help you become a Project Management Expert:
• Become a better speaker and always look for subjects that are hot
• Create a plan to write your book (or maybe start with an article:-)
• Improve requirements practices on each of your projects
• Increase on-time project delivery

Project Management Career Plan Ah-Hah: Each of your success factors has activities that you need to plan and execute to make it happen. (more…)

Know Your Project Management Career Development Critical Success Factors

Rosemary Hossenlopp, MBA PMP © 2007 All Rights Reserved

We all want to be experts in our project management field. What gets us recognized?

Success Factors Make Your Success Happen
Success factors are key activities you need to do to make your future happen. Success factors are things that must happen for career advancement to occur. These drive your career development activities. You must make time in your schedule for these activities.

Success Factors are sort of like differentiators but are more specific. So go back to your notes from yesterday and get really, really detailed about what it will take to be recognized by your peers and loved by your boss.

Success Factors are simple. They’re memorable. They’re contagious. And . . . they should make you shake in your shoes as they may seem so out of reach to you in your current career path. (more…)

What is Your Project Management Vision Statement? Part 2

Rosemary Hossenlopp, MBA PMP © 2007 All Rights Reserved

We discussed in Part One how to be hired by clients and loved by your bosses. Now we talk about what makes you thrive in your project management position.

A Personal Vision Statement Formula
Your personal vision statement will consist of what you are known for and what atmosphere you like to work in.  These are your values. Values define:

• how you like to work
• where you like to work
• who you like to work with

You don’t always get to choice about these issues. But when your project environment is aligned with your preferences; you thrive. (more…)

Christmas Day Greetings

Rosemary Hossenlopp, MBA PMP

 My desire is that project managers will find clarity in discussing what is important for them and create a vision to help them, their families, communities and organizations meet the challenges of the New Year with wisdom, grace, and joy.

What are your holiday greetings for the UCSC project management community? Please add a post.
 

What is Your Project Management Vision Statement? Part 1

Rosemary Hossenlopp, MBA PMP © 2007 All Rights Reserved

Project managers increase the chance of project failure by not planning project work. You have heard the saying “Plan the Work and Work the Plan.” It is true for career planning too. Project managers limit their personal success and growth by failing to plan their careers. Layoff’s leave them unprepared for their next step. Changes in methodologies and technologies cause catch project managers off guard when interviewing for their next position.

The Project Management Career Development Paradox
The project management career development paradox is that your boss only wants you to keep doing what is needed for current project success. That prevents you from growing as a project manager. (more…)