Project Hero Blog - Weekly Best Practices and Tips

Roughly one in five projects fails because people weren’t aligned, informed, or heard. When communication falters, schedules slip, risks increase, and stakeholder confidence erodes. When communication is strong, teams adapt faster, make better decisions, and recover quickly from setbacks.

Communication should be treated as a system, not a side task. These five practices form the backbone of effec...

Confidence is one of the most frequently cited traits of effective leaders. Whether you look at Inc., Forbes, or any other list of leadership qualities, confidence is always near the top. For project leaders, confidence is about conviction in the plan. Teams, sponsors, and stakeholders take their cues from the project manager. If you stay calm and confident, they are reassured and more likely to r...

Time is a constraint that separates successful project managers from those who struggle. A well-constructed schedule improves predictability, reduces stress, and gives stakeholders confidence that the project manager is in control. On the other hand,  poorly constructed schedules lead to rework, idle resources, and escalating costs.

In recent years, many industry experts have expressed concern th...

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...

Starting a project with an accurate budget is a significant step towards project success. But many project managers view budgeting as a one-time planning exercise, rather than a continuous management process. A well-constructed budget shapes expectations, guides decision-making, and provides the structure that enables the project team to perform effectively.

The crux of managing a budget effectiv...

Organizations understand the need to identify and analyze risks. But few give equal attention to developing a consistent process for risk response planning that turns awareness into action. A well-designed process guides decision-making, reduces cognitive bias, and manages secondary or residual risks arising from those responses.

Without a process, risk management becomes reactive. Decisions are ...

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...

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 ...

Organization is everything! Projects can easily veer off track without a clear structure, exceed budgets, and miss deadlines. That’s where the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) comes in. A WBS is a foundational tool that helps teams break down complex projects into manageable parts.

What is a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)?

A WBS is a hierarchical decomposition of a project into smaller, more manag...

Delegation is one of the most powerful tools available to a project manager. Yet, many managers struggle with it, often feeling like they need to do everything themselves to ensure quality and efficiency. While this instinct is understandable, failing to delegate can lead to burnout, bottlenecks, and an underdeveloped team. Effective delegation frees time for higher-level strategic tasks, strength...