Project Hero Blog - Weekly Best Practices and Tips

Ask ten people what a project manager does, and you might get ten different answers. Some will say project managers create schedules. Others will say they run meetings, prepare status reports, assign tasks, or make sure projects stay on budget. I had a recruiter at a job fair suggest that I join their customer service team because I would be talking to IT managers on the phone all day. All of thos...

A project manager can communicate daily and still have a communication problem. There can be emails sent and received, weekly status meetings, dashboards, presentations, steering committee meetings, instant messages, and carefully prepared status reports. Everyone may be receiving plenty of information, yet stakeholders can still walk away with very different ideas about what the project is trying...

Before the era of PowerPoint, presentations were often delivered with flip charts. During one quarterly sales update, a vice president of a prominent Fortune 100 company stood before the CEO, the senior leadership team, and the Board. Unfortunately, the vice president spent the presentation reading the flip charts word for word. After only a few moments, the CEO leaned forward and said, “I can rea...

One of the most common questions I encounter is whether project management best practices designed for large projects apply to smaller initiatives. The question is understandable. When people think of project management, they picture bureaucratic processes and documentation. For a small project involving only a handful of people and a modest budget, that type of overhead is unnecessary.

As a resu...

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...

The Risk Management Dilemma

According to PMI's 2017 Pulse of the Profession report, only 28% of project managers always use formal risk management processes. Even more alarming, 14% rarely or never engage in risk management at all.

The reasons for this vary, but a common theme is the resistance from project sponsors and senior management. Often, these decision-makers perceive risk management as ...

Project management has always been a dynamic discipline, adapting to changes in technology, business environments, and workforce expectations. Over the years, traditional methodologies have evolved with the adoption of digital tools, improving efficiency and collaboration. However, the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) is ushering in a new era, with the potential for reshaping how projects...

In business, observing competitors isn't just about keeping tabs but discovering pathways to growth and innovation. Businesses can uncover opportunities to enhance their offerings and maintain market relevance by analyzing their strategies. Strategic insights from competitors allow you to identify gaps in their products or services, enabling differentiation and fostering a sharper competitive edge...

Imagine arriving at work on a Monday morning, only to find that your key software engineer, who designed more than 60% of your project’s system, didn’t show up. After some digging, you learn he was arrested over the weekend for eight-year tax evasion. As the week progresses, you hold onto hope that he’ll make bail and return, allowing your project to continue.

He does make bail, but after a week ...

In today's competitive business landscape, the power of your voice extends far beyond the confines of your office or local market. As a business owner, mastering public speaking is not just an added skill—it's an essential strategy to propel your business forward. By enhancing your ability to communicate effectively, you can open new doors for growth, innovation, and influence. Let’s explore how p...