Timely decision-making is a valuable skill for project managers. There are times when deferring a decision is the best way to respond to project situations. Here are some situations when delaying a decision make sense. Your vendor has product upgrade plans. What if the release date for an updated product isn’t finalized yet? Rather than […]
Making sure business requirements are suitable is a valuable practice. Using SMART requirements (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) is a great start, but it isn’t always enough. Here are other requirement characteristics that help keep projects out of trouble. Will the requirement cause conflict? Requirements can benefit one part of the business and cause […]
Project setbacks are inevitable. The savvy project manager turns these challenges into learning opportunities. It takes finesse to add value in these situations, so here are approaches to turn setbacks into constructive learning moments. Focus on psychological safety. The phrase “focus on the problem, not the person” is only the beginning. To create constructive learning […]
Stakeholders who fear bad project outcomes are tough to manage. It’s important to address these fears. Left unmanaged, your project could be delayed or even cancelled. Here are a few approaches to manage project fears. Listen to fearful stakeholders. Their past experiences may have tainted their perceptions. You need to understand their concerns. Actively listen […]
Project ideas are what support careers in project management — and present possibilities for moving your organization forward. Sometimes, project ideas need more work before they should or would be accepted. Here are indicators that a project idea isn’t ready and how to improve it: The sponsorship prospects aren’t clear. A great question about a […]
Validating the assumptions included in the project justification is key to minimizing project risk. Sometimes, straightforward research is enough. For assumptions that aren’t easily validated, here are other approaches to validate or, at least, reduce the probability of an assumption being wrong. Consult experts. Reach outside your organization. Seek the opinions of LinkedIn contacts, […]
Contract management makes sure that you and your project vendors agree on costs, terms, deliverables, and conditions. Dig a little deeper, and contract management can help your projects in other ways: Enhanced vendor relationships. Time spent negotiating vendor contracts helps vendors understand project goals and your organization’s culture. This effort also helps set expectations that […]
People who think they’re stakeholders but aren’t waste your time and distract your project team. Early on, you need to address these pseudo-stakeholders, so they don’t eat up your time and resources. This Project Pointer provides approaches to identify them and reduce their impact on your project. Hold public consultations. After meeting with identified stakeholders, […]
Conferences and courses can help expand your skills and enhance your project management career. There are other ways to increase your abilities as part of your everyday job. Check out these ways to increase your skills by using your network. Swap project reviews. A fresh set of eyes can spot weaknesses, flaws, or risks you […]
A project manager doesn’t have to be an expert in a project’s domain area to serve as PM. But they must possess some domain knowledge to be effective. Here is the general domain knowledge needed to manage a project. Processes and regulations. Domain areas have specific approaches to work and standards that must be understood. […]
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