Project Hero Blog - Weekly Best Practices and Tips

Organizations face the temptation to call everything a project. Then, they apply a project manager and a lot of overhead to manage them. So while the formal definition of a project includes "temporary" and "produces a unique result," smart managers apply some additional rules.  These may consist of complexity, the budget amount,  team size, or a combination to determine if an actual...

I was recently asked, "What is the time frame for total project completion?" The time frame for total project completion is when all project work is done and all project resources, including the project manager, can be released.  Total project completion should include the tested product, service, or other results that meet all client needs and expectations.  This time frame is a...

Conflict resolution is a skill that transcends roles. So regardless of the type of team I am managing, my response would be the same.

Tip #1: Set the rules and boundaries.  As a leader, you define the standards for conduct and enforce them. Part of your resource plan should also include time for team building.

First, it is important to establish the team as a safe space where open and...

A question I sometimes need to field is “what are the top 5 critical communication skills a Project Manager must possess to be successful?”.  There are more than 5 skills that revolve around communications, so the choice is a difficult one.

Then the proverbial light bulb went off! I decided my answer to this challenge involves looking for the “lowest common...

With the widespread recognition of project management as a valuable organizational core competency, the current economic climate, and the continued challenges of doing more with less, I continue to observe more and more project managers that have been bestowed the title (either by themselves, by the work they do, or by their managers) without the proper support and training to truly fulfill the...

The most productive meetings result in decisions and actions.  Recording the decisions and actions in meeting minutes creates a useful accountability tool.  Minutes can also keep those unable to attend informed of results.  Good minutes are both easy to develop and ensure an accurate record of decisions and actions.

Here are seven tips for creating better meeting minutes:

1. Use a...

Video conferencing, especially from home, has become a new norm.  Here are six tips to improve your virtual meetings.

1. Start on time. Unlike an office setting, people aren't walking to the meeting and collecting attendees on the way. Especially if you are the host, be sure to be on time. I usually suggest that everyone start to sign on to the meeting about 5-10 minutes ahead.  The...

Project management can be a demanding role.  Use these time management tips to manage time more effectively, from day-to-day and month-to-month.

1. Know When You are Most Productive. The first step in effectively managing time is to know when you are the most productive.  This time is when you feel more energized and creative.  Are you a morning or afternoon person? This time is...

I often get asked whether project management best practices used for large projects are applicable to smaller projects. This fundamental question is one that all project managers must face when managing small projects. Utilizing the best practices on a small project can be done without creating too much paperwork or overhead.

The best practices are the things that countless project managers...

Before the era of PowerPoint, presentations were given with flip charts. A vice president of a prominent fortune 100 company was providing a quarterly sales update presentation to the CEO, the senior executives, and the Board.  Unfortunately, this VP was reading the flip charts.  After a few moments, the CEO leaned forward and declared, "I can read!  When I say 'flip,' flip to...