Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Monday, April 11, 2011
Good Listening Tips
Stop Talking!
Put the talker at ease
Show him/her that you want to listen
Remove distractions from your behavior
Empathize
Be patient
Hold your temper
Try not to argue or criticize. Don't evaluate, just listen
Ask questions
Summarize occasionally to confirm understanding
Put the talker at ease
Show him/her that you want to listen
Remove distractions from your behavior
Empathize
Be patient
Hold your temper
Try not to argue or criticize. Don't evaluate, just listen
Ask questions
Summarize occasionally to confirm understanding
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Manage Expectations to Succeed
In the project management world there are many differing opinions regarding how to successfully manage a project. One of the most important things project managers must do is to manage the expectations and relationships with our stakeholders.
Some things to keep in mind to help us manage our relationships better are:
Some things to keep in mind to help us manage our relationships better are:
- Take the time to assess the culture (Is it supportive, what is the balance of power, what are the stakeholder attitudes)
- Identify and formally document the goals of the stakeholders and sponsor (Are the goals realistic, attainable, communicated)
- Assess our own capabilities and limitations (Are you politically savvy, respected, a good negotiator)
- Define the problem(s) the project will be solving (Define objectives, risks, relationships)
- Develop solutions (Create action plan, determine the right solution for the right time)
- Test and refine the solutions (New learnings must be incorporated, replan, retool, rethink)
- Develop communication plans to ensure expectations are managed