Project Hero Blog - Weekly Best Practices and Tips

Leadership today is very different from what it was in past decades. Modern leaders succeed through influence, which helps the team feel confident and reassured. They must inspire, guide, and empower their teams even when they don’t control every decision or resource. In projects, especially, leaders must influence across functions, collaborate with stakeholders, and motivate team members who don’...

It’s hard to believe, but 2-3 years ago, many of us felt AI wasn't ready for prime time. But in 2026, project management will enter a new era. The new era will be defined by confident acceleration in the use of artificial intelligence, even as many issues are resolved.

AI is now a partner, transforming how projects are managed. The question organizations now face is how to implement it responsibl...

As the year winds down, many project managers find themselves balancing deadlines, reporting cycles, shifting priorities, and holiday demands while trying to maintain a sense of calm. December can feel like a pressure cooker, but it also offers a valuable opportunity to prepare for a stronger start to the coming year. By taking a few intentional steps now, you can reduce stress, close out the year...

The PMP is a Milestone, Not a Destination

For many project managers, earning the Project Management Professional (PMP)® credential is a significant career goal. It’s a highly respected and sought-after professional certification, signifying a thorough understanding of project management principles and practices. But here’s the truth: the PMP is not the finish line. It’s the starting block.

Too o...

“Work smarter, not harder” is easier said than done, especially for project managers. With shifting priorities, competing demands, and unplanned issues, it can feel like there’s never enough time in the day. Working smarter doesn’t mean cutting corners or rushing through tasks. It's about optimizing processes and leveraging resources effectively to get the best possible results through focus, stru...

Not long ago, someone questioned the wisdom of holding a weekly project status meeting where the whole team participates to discuss issues and potential requirement changes.

“Wouldn’t that be an expensive meeting?” they asked.

“Sure,” I replied, “but imagine the expense without it.”

That brief exchange encapsulates one of the most persistent misconceptions in project management. Meetings have a...

At some point in every project manager’s career, there comes a day when the work stops feeling strategic and starts feeling chaotic. Their calendar fills with emergency meetings, problems multiply faster than they can be solved, and they spend more time reacting than leading. It’s what we like to call “firefighting.” Some call it “herding cats.” Whatever the phrase, it means the same thing: you’ve...

Project management fundamentals are easy to understand, but mastery takes years of practice. Even the most seasoned project managers can fall into bad habits, leading to poor outcomes. Sometimes, mistakes are subtle, such as overreacting to minor changes or communicating in ways that fail to engage stakeholders. At other times, the errors are more obvious, such as insufficient planning or failing ...

Every project manager has heard a tale of failure so perfectly avoidable that it reads like fiction. The story I’m about to share is one of those tales: a fable drawn from real-world experience. Although it focuses on payroll, its lessons apply to every industry and type of project. The story revolves around missing macro, or organizational, change management, ensuring an organization is ready to ...

Albert Einstein has often been attributed with saying, “If I had an hour to solve a problem, I'd spend the first 55 minutes thinking about the problem and 5 minutes thinking about solutions.” Projects deliver strategies and solve problems, too. For decades, technology projects have lived and died on the strength of their planning. Yet in today’s fast-moving world, “plan” has almost become a four-l...