Clearing the Underbrush
One of my CEOs recently mentioned that the recession is forcing him to rethink all aspects of his business, including how many employees it takes to do a job. (Six people to change a light bulb?)
He remarked that he is in the business of clearing out the deadwood and is glad for the excuse to [...]
The Key to Successful Cross-functional Collaboration
Quick: what’s the biggest challenge in cross-functional collaboration? Bing! Yes, “building trusting, open relationships” is correct! Does that sound too Oprah-esque? Let’s think about it for a minute. How do you build trusting, open relationships in your cross-functional team, and why does it matter?
Let’s start with why it matters. How successful will your collaboration be if each [...]
Breaking the Cycle of Micromanagement
Does this sound familiar?
Project Manager: I thought I knew where we stood, but turns out we’re further behind than I thought. This latest slip is going to have a domino effect. I wish I had known earlier, when we could’ve done something about it!
Task Owner: I don’t want to make a big deal out of [...]
Point 2 – Deming in Project Management
Adopt a Philosophy of Cooperation Where Everyone Wins and Teach it to Everyone
Often, projects can become battlegrounds where the project manager and team are at odds with the sponsor and other stakeholders. These conflicts can arise when the project environment is not conducive to a win-win approach.
In project planning and initiation, clearly define the WIIFM [...]


