Lisa DiTullio

Congratulations!  You have been assigned to your next project.  Like other projects, you have been asked to deliver a project large on scope and short on deadlines.  Are you ready?

Whether it’s a networking event or a job search, making the right connection is critical to your future success.   With unemployment hovering at 10%, how do you stand out among the crowd?

It didn’t take long during my brief exchange with the DIVA to form a first impression; not long at all.  In fact, according to Malcolm Gladwell, whenever we meet someone for the first time, we are able to size someone up in just two seconds – it’s the power of our adaptive unconscious.  In recognition [...]

I attended a business to business networking event the other night.  It was what you might expect, a bunch of professionals mingling about, looking to make the “right” connection.  I met a number of fascinating individuals, all with varied backgrounds.  The most memorable person I met was Ann.  Her name tag said “DIVA” in big, [...]

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 [...]

Let’s continue to LEAD, albeit backwards…The other day I wrote about Delegation.  Today, let’s focus on Act and Encourage.  Sometimes, a little fog is good for team climate…

The other day I had the opportunity to present the opening keynote session at the Lavacon/PMI GNO 2009 Event in New Orleans. I talked a lot about leadership.   Whether you are leading a large program, a small project, or a division staff of 200 – your leadership skills, or lack thereof, will define your success.  [...]

I had the opportunity to speak at the PMI Congress this year.  My presentation, called Expected Behaviors for Project Team Performance:  Road Rules, Not Road Rage introduced a set of ‘good behaviors” for teams to consider and an easy way to enable team members to reduce the “noise” which occurs among team members.

I don’t believe leadership is about your accomplishments or credentials.  It’s about your presence.  It’s what’s inside that makes you stand out.  Leadership is often defined by how others view you.

Technorati Tags: Leadership, leadership-skills

Today, it’s all about doing things differently and doing different things.  Did you know Google runs 50 to 200 search experiments at any given time?
Innovation and creativity is the lifeblood of growth – organizations who think differently and act quickly are the ones who will break from the pack.  Successful project leaders drive the change [...]

Let’s get out of the dark ages and admit what we know.  Project manager is a misnomer.  We don’t manage projects, we drive change.
Set aside the process and tactics associated with projects and you will easily separate those who manage projects versus those who lead.  Leadership is not about your credentials or accomplishments; it’s about your [...]

I have been taking advantage of my time at home this week.  I am doing a lot of writing while I watch over my son’s recovery.  I am presenting a keynote for PMI Capital Michigan next month; this has been a good opportunity for me to prepare and practice my speech.   The Michigan Chapter is [...]

My 15-year old had knee surgery yesterday; it was his 2nd surgery in three months.  The first procedure was performed on his left knee in May, yesterday his surgeon repaired his right knee.  Prior to surgery, he endured much pain and many hours of physical therapy – he has many more months of rehabilitation ahead of [...]

I am lucky to live by the ocean.  Yesterday, I had the opportunity to spend two hours at the beach, by myself—no husband or children in tow.  I packed up a slew of unread magazines, my iPod, and sunscreen — I was ready for a blissful afternoon.  With the warm sunshine at my face, a [...]

Have you started the conversation with your team about Expected Behaviors yet? The dialogue may not be as uncomfortable you may think. Here are a few suggestions to get it going.
Set the context. Set the context by reinforcing the value of teamwork from your perspective. Answer the question, “Why are we doing this?” As [...]

Today, President Obama signs a massive Economic Stimulus Package, offering significant funding for new infrastructure projects. Dust off your shovels!

Regardless of project type or size, this is a great time to introduce a set of Expected Behaviors to your project team to support improved decisions, efficiency, and project results. As a reminder, here is [...]

Are your projects “shovel ready”? For those of you who have not been paying attention, shovel ready projects is the term President Obama has been using to describe projects he favors for the stimulus spending package; the term refers to those projects that are already designed and permitted – in other words, those projects that [...]

As you know, I recently spent time in Orlando, Florida hosting ProjectWorld’s 4th Annual PMO Workshop.  I love hosting this event, it places me in my sweet spot – mingling with PMO Believers.  I find myself completely energized when the workshop concludes; I have rejoiced with other project management evangelists for two days; we have drank from the [...]

Last month I once again had the pleasure of hosting the Annual PMO Workshop for ProjectWorld in Orlando, Florida.  The event, now in its 4th year, is designed to support PMO leaders through the exchange of best practices and expert advice.  Interestingly, the majority of attendees this year were quite novice – over 55% of workshop participants had [...]