Projects as Art

"A great piece of art is composed not just of what is in the final piece, but equally important, what is not.  It is the discipline to discard what does not fit - to cut out what might have already cost days or even years of effort that distiguishes the truly exceptional artist and marks the ideal piece of work, be it a symphony, a novel, a painting, a company or, most important of all, a life"

Author Unknown

Awesome Life Tips

Various Quotes by By Bruce Lee

“Knowing is not enough, we must apply. Willing is not enough, we must do.”

“Absorb what is useful, Discard what is not, Add what is uniquely your own.”

“Simplicity is the key to brilliance.”

“Using no way as way, using no limitation as limitation.”

“Take no thought of who is right or wrong or who is better than. Be not for or against.”

“Real living is living for others.”

“If you love life, don’t waste time, for time is what life is made up of.”

“Notice that the stiffest tree is most easily cracked, while the bamboo or willow survives by bending with the wind.”

“A goal is not always meant to be reached, it often serves simply as something to aim at.”

“A quick temper will make a fool of you soon enough.”

“All fixed set patterns are incapable of adaptability or pliability. The truth is outside of all fixed patterns.”

“As you think, so shall you become.”

“If you spend too much time thinking about a thing, you’ll never get it done.”

“I’m not in this world to live up to your expectations and you’re not in this world to live up to mine.”

“To hell with circumstances; I create opportunities.”

“Always be yourself, express yourself, have faith in yourself, do not go out and look for a successful personality and duplicate it.”

“Knowledge will give you power, but character respect”

“Obey the principles without being bound by them.”

“Showing off is the fool’s idea of glory.”

“You just wait. I’m going to be the biggest Chinese Star in the world.”

The Power of Words

Very inspiring short video... Well worth two minutes of your time...

Click Here to View Video

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

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:

• 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 

Successful Project Managers Have...

Have recognized leadership traits

Be a great communicator

Have a sense of humor (often)

Have integrity

Be driven to succeed

Have great project management skills

Be disciplined

Be able to think strategically

Be a good listener (active listening)

Be compassionate

Make good decisions

How does a new project manager obtain and hone these skills?  My quick answer is a blend of education, experience, on-the-job training, mentoring, and a continuous feedback loop.  In order to move from good to great we must work to improve our skills and focus on our strengths; however, we must also identify and minimize or eliminate our weaknesses. 

Finally, great project managers like working with people. They like challenges, they have an even temperament, and they are a motivating influence to those around them.  Good PMs don’t just plan and delegate, they get involved and become part of the team. 

Wisdom and Projects

Albert Einstein said "A clever person solves a problem; a wise person avoids it". After reading this quote, it reminded me that project managers spend a lot of time (or should be) avoiding problems. One thing that can help project managers avoid problems is to follow a Project Management Methodology (PMM). A PMM is a set of agreed-upon processes that assists project managers and  teams to deliver predictable project outcomes.

To create a customized PMM for your organization you need to define all applicable project management processes, procedures and policies used to deliver your organization's projects. Also, don't forget to develop or obtain a set of project templates as they are an important part of any PMM.  Finally, you need to develop a training program to introduce and educate your organization about the new PMM.

Once your PMM is implemented ensure you measure the results and make adjustments where necessary. If you need help in developing your PMM there are many companies that can assist you and your organization.