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...

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 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...

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...

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...

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...

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 simply reading the flip charts. ...

One of the most challenging tasks for project managers is creating a schedule. Any number of dependencies need consideration – logical progressions of work, resource availability, client or sponsor delivery demands, team preferences, and more.  Here are five tips for getting the best...

Stress, burnout, and physical exhaustion impact project managers at one time or another. You need to believe that you can get a handle on what stresses you, and diffuse this stress in ways that maintain your physical and emotional health.  Pressure may be a part of life, but it is essential...

Julia couldn't be more frustrated! There were less than three months to finish the project, and yet everything was going wrong. And to top it all, the budget to complete the work was nearly exhausted.

Julia's problem boils down to ineffective project management. She may have failed to complete...

Project management, like most professional careers, requires practitioners to have some personal attributes to improve their success rates. These attributes far outweigh any single tool or management fad with a catchy name. Here are five qualities needed for focusing your project management...

Embarking on a new career can have its challenges.  When starting a new position, it's always good to know what is expected of you.  Knowing what is expected, avoids common mistakes and helps to advance careers.  Here are six expectations managers generally have for new project...