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Projects tackle the urgent and important objectives an organization needs to thrive, so project managers tend to hold a special position of responsibility as well as a unique visibility in the work world. As a project manager, program manager or …
It seems that starting a business has never been easier. Social media and crowd funding are just a couple of the developments that have eased the way for entrepreneurs. With online tools, an entrepreneur can now set up shop and …
The advances in artificial intelligence as demonstrated by OpenAI’s new ChatGPT chatbot are truly amazing. It suddenly seems like anyone can get answers about any topic, or can use the chatbot to write essays, compose poems, solicit advice, and create …
As organizations scramble to adapt to rapid changes in the contemporary work environment – including increased automation – there is a new focus on improving work methods and getting results by whatever means necessary. In the realm of project management, …
Developing a partnership with your client—one built on mutual trust and understanding—is essential for establishing a long-term working relationship. If you aren’t trusted, your advice won’t be trusted. If you don’t understand the client as a person, you won’t know …
There has always been a distinction between two ways of managing. The first type, operations management, requires managers to be directive and hierarchical to standardize routine organizational functions. The second, project management, requires managers to be more flexible, process-oriented, and …
For many, starting their own business seems like a wonderful dream, but it may also feel unattainable. Becoming your own boss, determining your own future, and having more freedom are some of the many attractions. In fact, most people have …
If you had just a few minutes to convince a potential customer that you’re the perfect person for their freelance opportunity, what would you say? Which skills make you unique? Do you know your own value, and can you express …
Forty years ago, John Naisbitt, author of “Megatrends” (1982), predicted not only the shift of America’s industrial economy to less developed nations around the globe, but also the significantly reduced role of management in the U.S. workforce. Our economy moved …
Starting a business during a recession may not seem like a great idea, but in fact it just might be the best time to launch your new venture. Companies such as Airbnb, Uber, and Venmo started during the recession that …
One key aspect of project management is assessing the value of a project—but unfortunately, value assessment doesn’t always get the attention it deserves. As project managers, we all know it to be true: the definition of project success belongs in …
If you’ve ever played chess, you know that sometimes you and your partner reach a “stalemate.” A stalemate is a position in which no action can be taken. You’ve likely experienced negotiating situations in life where there has been a …
Anyone who works in project management knows that a lot of planning goes into preparing a project team to do its work, before the project itself even begins. Deliverables are spelled out; estimates are made regarding how long the project …
Why do organizations create a project? Projects are created when important objectives cannot be easily obtained by doing “business as usual,” and when getting results is important to organizational success. Whether the project is created by an executive or an …
We’re all familiar with the common ways in which businesses are structured: corporations, limited liability companies, and sole proprietorships are examples. But there is a new type of organization that is gaining traction. Although it is very early days, DAOs …
Many words come to mind when thinking about how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the economy, but perhaps chief among them is uncertainty. The manifestations of this were everywhere—unemployment spiked, the stock market crashed, and speculation on securities ran wild. A …
As technology changes how we work, the workforce has evolved in many different ways. One of the major evolving areas is how organizations are managed and controlled. In past decades, layers of management were put in place to supervise and …
Most businesspeople are aware of the myriad ways that artificial intelligence has impacted the labor market. Ranging from fast food orders to invoicing, chatbots to supply chain management, AI is taking over roles once performed by human workers. As we …
The hybrid workplace seems to be here to stay, and many are welcoming this change to a model that mixes remote work with time in the office. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, workers stated a preference to work at home …
Most of us are familiar with attempts by computers and software systems to understand spoken language—like when you ask your phone to tell you where the nearest sandwich shop is, or ask Alexa to play a favorite song. You’re also …
Becoming a better consultant isn’t something that has to be a major effort. Instead, it’s all about small, subtle changes in focus. It means highlighting areas where incremental improvement can lead to big payoffs, and using what you’re already doing …
Anybody who has worked in an administrative role can attest that certain types of office work are dull or tedious. Filling out standard forms, data extraction, and processing simple data can certainly be unstimulating. These are also fairly standardized activities, …
One of the interesting aspects of searching for project management positions in today’s employment market is that sometimes you’re not really being interviewed for a project manager position. Project management might be the title proposed, but the role might diverge …
Clients and consultants sometimes encounter difficulties when they don’t share a common understanding of how to improve a situation. They may not have a clear handle on the goals. The client might have a better understanding of their business than …
The term “project management” has become a buzzword. And like any buzzword, it’s thrown around freely without much common understanding of what it really is. As a result, people who aren’t actually doing project management are given that label, and …
Discussions about the economic dangers and potentials of artificial intelligence (AI) tend to center around the ability of AI to do specific, clearly-defined tasks quickly and well. This is of great concern to employees whose jobs solely revolve around doing …
In today’s rapidly fluctuating work environment, opportunities for project management positions may be fewer, but they’re still there. Indeed, capable leaders who can step in and adapt despite the unpredictability are sorely needed. You can build a career even in …
Americans tend to believe that technology will save us from everything. That holds for most things except automation, which many fear will lead to economic catastrophe or widespread job loss. A 2013 Oxford Study showing that nearly half of US …
This is a down market. Jobs are hard to come by, competition is fierce, and even while some jobs are opening up again, there are far fewer than before the slump. So how do you keep your focus and build …
In the decades before the gig worker boom, labor law concerned itself almost exclusively with people working either as employees or independent contractors. Those categories define how workers are regulated, taxed, what protections apply to them and the products of …
Consultants work with their clients to provide advice and support. Whether it’s just a short-term project or a consulting engagement lasting over many years, the best consultants know how to add value to the client relationship. They understand that the …
Because projects address situations not faced before, or strive to deliver results under circumstances not experienced before, there will always be unknowns. Planning can occur in the face of unknowns, but the more you know, the better your plan can …
One of the challenges of being a consultant is helping your client make needed or desired changes. Consultants can identify the required change, but they don’t have direct control over its implementation. They need to work with their clients as …
We’ve all heard how automation and artificial intelligence are going to replace human beings in the workplace, leave millions unemployed, many jobs entirely in the hands of robots, and fundamentally change the workplace forever. Many people are already aware that …
Many people have chosen the path of being a consultant. Businesses hire internal or external consultants to help them achieve their goals. But sometimes it’s not clear if being a consultant is “a good thing or a bad thing.” Not …
COVID-19 has shaken the world to its core. There is no doubt that the world after the pandemic subsides will be markedly different from the world before it. One aspect of our lives that has already changed and will never …
From mom and pop shops to major corporations, businesses are dealing with the effects of the current COVID-19 pandemic crisis. More than half of Americans are now working from home whereas less than 25 percent worked from home, even occasionally, …
Many people think that risk management is only relevant to major organizations with big budgets who run mega-projects or who work in a regulated or safety-critical industry sector. Those of us who own or manage a small-to-medium-sized enterprise (SME) might …
The topic of “meetings” is one that usually elicits groans, that then lead to lots of bad, cringe-worthy meeting stories, with rarely good outcomes. As we know, meetings don’t always require physical attendance. The COVID-19 pandemic social distancing has found …
Employees crave challenges. Freelancers crave breadth. Companies crave attention. In all three scenarios the common, simplest answer, is creativity. Creativity can help workers stay interested and focused on the job. In a 2018 Udemy study 54% of surveyed employees indicated that …
Many people have heard a lot about project management but do not really know how it works. A very effective example of project management in action is visible in Governor Andrew Cuomo’s live address on March 24 on how New …
There are many reasons why people choose to work in the gig economy. In a 2018 study by Gianpiero Petriglieri, Susan Ashford, and Amy Wrzesniewski, the people interviewed valued the independence that came with being an independent contractor working gigs …
The automation of work promised by artificial intelligence is often seen as a source of great potential for the handful of people who stand to profit from it, including those who will own the machines that replace people, and a …
The toughest part of freelancing is, arguably, finding new work. When it comes to paying the bills, freelancers know the hustle life better than most, but gig sites aren’t always the answer. Especially now that places like Upwork cost freelancers money without …
Discussions of how artificial intelligence will impact the workforce often focus on the potential for mass unemployment, the increases in productivity, and the ways in which dull, menial tasks can be shirked off to computers. We consider less often the …
When it comes to applying for jobs on Upwork or similar gig sites, sometimes it feels like throwing your resume into the wind. Is anyone even going to see it? What makes me different from the other 1000+ freelancers who …
Stakeholders all have expectations, whether they’re expressed or subconscious. For project managers, understanding these expectations throughout the course of a project can help create a successful project conclusion. While meeting every expectation from each stakeholder is impossible, identifying what people …
Any project manager knows that projects vary significantly: some last for years, with multiple phases, while others are sporadic, with periodic breaks that free staff and management to work on other initiatives. Some are important. Others are urgent. Some are …
Whether the slow season in your business is the holidays or mid-year, there is often a slow season in every business sector. Days that aren’t full of meetings, projects, and other time-sensitive work can be the perfect time to get things …
There was a time not so long ago when gig work was seen as a panacea for the various perceived faults of the old-fashioned world of work. Where the traditional job was weighed down by a long, rigid work week, …
In a gig economy it can feel impossible to differentiate yourself from your gig competitors when pitching for a job. Whether it’s a mundane task you’ve done a thousand times or something you’re trying for the very first time, gig …
A few months ago, my wife and I were on a sunrise game drive in South Africa. None of the animals seemed to be awake yet, and all was quiet. I sat on the edge of the vehicle, my camera …
Recent business trends have made it possible to start independent work more easily, and with more possibilities, than ever before. There is strong support in the business world for hiring expertise on an as-needed basis, and as a result, the …
We’ve all been hearing a lot lately about the economy: unemployment is near a record low, the stock market is at a record high, and job creation numbers have been relatively steady. Yet behind these reassuring numbers lurks a troubling …
Everyone agrees that the world is risky and that risk management is important. But where did risk management come from, and where is it going? When and how did we learn that managing risk was an essential life skill? And …
Like it or not, we are all negotiating, all the time—and at some level, all negotiations involve an assessment of the balance of power: how much do I want what the other party has to offer, and how much do …
All around us, we see that the world of work has fundamentally changed—there are more freelancers, more part-time workers, and more contractors, all while the security of traditional salaried employment has diminished. The realities of this new economy are far-reaching …
These days, there are many dire predictions about artificial intelligence replacing human workers. News specials and magazine articles speculate that no occupation is immune, or claim that whole fields of work, such as teaching or project management, might be replaced …
The Future of Work is something that everyone wants to understand, but few of us fully do. What we can all agree on is that in many ways, the “future” is already here. There are more freelancers, an increased need …
Since the dawn of time, mankind has used myths to make sense of the uncertainty that surrounds us. More recently, in the world of business and projects, risk management has performed the same role. Unfortunately, myths have also grown up …
As a consultant, one of your key objectives is to fully understand your client’s situation so that you can offer advice, solutions, and support as needed. This means taking the time to not only understand your client’s current reality, but …
The client-consultant relationship can be complex, with hiccups and challenges experienced by both parties along the way. One of the most common challenges faced by consultants is balancing their client’s need for control with the need for some kind of …
Change has always been a part of our society and economy, but during the past several decades, the rate of change accelerated and continues to accelerate. Looking back on the past forty years alone, the changes were seismic. Companies that …
To build effective consulting relationships, consultants must understand their own value and how it supports their client’s goals. What are the experiences, insights, and skills you have that will help your client succeed? If you’re working with an established client, …
Current risk management standards and guidelines use broad definitions of “risk” that encompass both threat and opportunity, but many people still find it difficult to understand why “opportunity” is included in the definition. And without understanding the reasons, there is …
How important is the gig economy to the future of work? While there are conflicting views, it’s clear that the gig economy has become more important. Over the last few years, a significantly higher proportion of workers have been seeking …
The ability to manage risk effectively is recognized as an important contributor to business success, which is why it has become an essential part of the manager’s toolkit. Risk-based thinking is permeating the boardroom and discussions within executive committees as …
Business projects are seldom discussed from the point of view of the “happiness” of their team members. Projects are recognized for getting things done, and projects are resourced for overall effectiveness. Sponsors, customers, and society at large look for valued …
We all need to know how to use our influence and powers of persuasion to support needed changes, whether with family, work life, or life in general. For project managers who are focused on delivering and leading change initiatives, persuasion …
One of the top challenges for freelancers, consultants and entrepreneurs is finding and keeping good customers. Growing a strong customer base can help you improve profitability and achieve your business goals. To build successful client relationships that will last, you’ll …
Serial entrepreneurs repeatedly begin new companies and are willing to take on the risk of new ventures. They are often thought of as successful, but just because they have a history of startups, does that really improve their chance of …
In business, as in life in general, problems crop up everywhere. Those who know how to think about problems proactively have an advantage, and problem-solving is arguably one of the most important skills a businessperson can learn. That’s true no …
Sometimes people assume a project manager is simply an administrator who tracks the progress of a project team’s work against an established schedule. But that’s the role of a schedule administrator, not a project manager. Project management is actually, in …
The novice project manager might be worried to learn that her project contains risk. Surely risk is “A Bad Thing,” and it would be better if her project had none? But her more experienced colleague would explain that there are …
Understanding the expectations of project stakeholders is absolutely critical to successful stakeholder management. Do you know what your stakeholders expect? If not, your project may already be heading down the wrong path. In order to pinpoint stakeholder expectations, it’s important …
Trend-watching is a good way to spot issues that your organization may be facing in the future. A popular topic lately is the erosion of civility, and the accompanying uptick in rudeness, in our society today. New research about the …
Whether you’re an entrepreneur or a freelancer, being responsible for your own business is empowering and exciting. The possibilities are endless, but so are the risks, particularly financial risk. In fact, one of the main reasons that new businesses fail …
When discussing new hires, organizations often categorize candidates as either generalists or specialists. Specialists are typically sought for technical jobs while generalists are steered toward staff or junior management roles. But more and more, with businesses in a constant state …
The purpose of risk management is obviously to manage risks. But one of the most common failings in the risk management process is for the risk identification step to identify things that are not risks. If this early stage of …
As anyone who has found themselves in a leadership role can tell you, there is no “one way” to become an effective leader. While there are truisms like “treat people with respect” or “listen and learn,” the formula that works …
The word “consultant” encompasses more professions than many people realize. If you work toward changing or improving a business situation—without having direct decision power over that situation—you’re consulting. “Consultant” might be in your job description, or it might not. Business …
Welcome to 2018! In many languages the month January is named after Janus the two-faced Roman god of doorways, and the start of a new year is traditionally a time for review, looking back at the past 12 months and …
Businesses thrive on data. Data helps them create new strategies to increase revenue and improve efficiency. Companies use data to predict who will buy, how to get products delivered cost-effectively, how to anticipate and plan for risk, and which strategies …
When it comes to projects, we are often comfortable with identifying ourselves as executives or managers, but few of us describe ourselves as “leaders.” Others may put us into that category, but why are we hesitant to place ourselves under …
Most project managers understand that stakeholders possess and exercise various forms of power in the context of a project. The position adopted by stakeholders is likely to have a significant effect on whether or not a project succeeds, and stakeholders …
The future of work is here, and it is also emerging before our eyes. Companies are adopting technologies that automate routine tasks (think chatbots, for example), and they are increasing the use of artificial intelligence, automation, robotics, and related tech …
Everyone loves a great story. Stories help us to connect with others more effectively, whether one-on-one or in a group. This is as true in the business context as anywhere else. But what, precisely, makes for a great story, and …
Everyone knows that “business hates uncertainty.” Uncertainty poses clear threats to business, but it also contains significant opportunities. Sources of uncertainty must be understood so that these threats and opportunities can be effectively managed, allowing us to avoid and minimize …
Contemplating “the future of work” is both exciting and daunting. Now and in the future, compared to our parents, we have a vast array of choices over how we work, where we work, when we work, and with whom we …
Plato is quoted as saying that “The problem with the future is that more things might happen than will happen.” Or as Pliny said, “The only certainty is that there is nothing certain.” Nowhere is this more evident than in …
Assessing risk is an important part of a well-managed project, and project managers and team members should have a risk management plan in place from the project’s outset. Projects, in and of themselves, are risky endeavors because the project often addresses a critical need, resolves an existing …
Some people seek out risk while others avoid it. Likewise, some organizations tolerate risk while other organizations minimize it. Whatever one’s particular strategy, we all face risk in our personal and work lives on a daily basis, and how we react to risk distinguishes those who are effective project managers from those who are less effective. In …
The internet has fundamentally changed the role of today’s salesperson, and this is a reality that can’t be ignored. In a world where consumers can purchase anything from diapers to high-end jewelry with a simple click of the mouse, the contemporary salesperson must …
There has been a lot of talk in the news lately — especially in the political arena — about picking leaders based on loyalty. It seems that sometimes, loyalty even takes the lead over ability and expertise. But then, that’s …
A leader seeking success needs to be trusted. In study after study, research on leadership lists trust as a top trait, and studies have shown that when trust in a leader increases, productivity goes up and costs go down. As …
When you’re faced with a problem in day-to-day business life, what is your strategy for getting it resolved? All too often, business professionals make problems more difficult by jumping to conclusions and implementing “solutions” before the problem is fully understood. …
Fake news, it seems, is everywhere. It’s a term we didn’t know just a few years ago, but after this political season it’s become difficult to figure out what’s real and what’s not. “Pope Backs Trump,” “Hillary Sold Weapons to …
We negotiate all the time. Any time you want something that another person has, or that person wants something that you have, you’re in a potential negotiation. Should you negotiate? That depends. You’ll want to size up the situation and …
Today, as almost every day, I was asked by a website to prove that I’m human. You’ve probably had the same experience: in order to access a webpage, you must perform a task that only a human can do, like …
Are we asking the right questions? Can asking better questions spark innovation and creativity? How can asking better questions help us in our personal and business lives? Exploring the power of inquiry is the focus of Warren Berger’s 2014 bestselling …
What keeps your customer up at night? What is he or she most worried about? One of the best ways to build value with your customers is through a deep understanding of their business concerns. Too often, salespeople lead with …
Would you know if someone was being bullied at work? It’s not always easy to tell. Many years ago, I worked as a sales rep for a boss who managed by intimidation. He publicly shamed and embarrassed his employees. He …
In today’s society, we’re made to feel that there’s something wrong with us when we’re doing nothing. We imagine the efficient, effective person we want to be, always on top of what’s going on in our workplace and in the …
Recently, there have been a number of very large data breaches that should cause consumer concern. But it is interesting to note that consumers have been unlikely to change their online habits, even as more data breaches have been reported. …
Why do people use payday loans, or check cashing services? The reasons might be different than you think. In this podcast, author Lisa Servon, who wrote The Unbanking of America: How the New Middle Class Survives, takes you into the …
One of the most important skills in communication — and in business — is the ability to listen. Listening is critical because, after all, if you can’t listen, how can you respond in any meaningful way? Listening involves not just …
InfoWorks interviewed Shelley Sweet, who is President of I4 Process and author of The BPI Blueprint. I4 Process provides consultation, workshops and training programs based on a unique 3-PEAT method of modeling processes and analyzing data that accelerates operational …
It’s a challenge to measure ad effectiveness of online ads. In this podcast, researchers from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University talk about how hard it is to really measure whether a digital ad is effective, and discuss …
We can and should ask better questions. As children, we ask lots of questions, and are naturally curious about life. Much of that dissipates as we get older. In his book, A More Beautiful Question, Warren Berger examines how we …
You will find risk everywhere you look, if you look for it. Every time we get into a car, as a driver or passenger, there is the risk of an accident. Every time we burn a candle, there is a …
Many project management professionals lead stress-filled lives, work long hours on projects and still keep home and family together using their project management skills. Most workers respond to rising demands in their workplace by working longer hours, pushing themselves to …
Recently, a new hashtag popped up on the internet: #Marmitegate. Social media users in the UK were following a news story about a potential 10% rise in the price of Marmite, which is a traditional British product: a sticky paste …
It’s likely the European Union will disintegrate. That’s the opinion of Nassim Nicholas Taleb, author of Antifragile: Things that Gain from Disorder, and The Black Swan.
What would make it possible for a company to last 100 years? And why are so many companies gone too soon?
The stages of successful movements follows a similar path. Like a story, they have a beginning, middle, and end. Nancy Duarte and Patti Sanchez have researched how successful movements evolve. This article in the Harvard Business Review describes the …
Here’s how to make sure your business has it’s best possible start. Disciplined Entrepreneurship, by Bill Aulet, is a handbook for new companies.
Projects stakeholders have an interest in the outcomes of your project. Some are more important to the life of the project, such as the sponsor, steering committee, or project team members. Others are no less important but are involved only …
As we said in Part 1, the first phase of managing a project is Project Initiation. Early in the project, you define the project’s product or end point in sufficient detail that you can both satisfy the customer’s view of …
(Part 3 in a series of 3 posts on how to project manage your job search. Read Part 1 and Part 2.) What’s On Your Plate? You have a new project to manage: a job search. Don’t get out the …
Now that your project is well scoped (in part 1), and you can define success, it’s time to consider cost efficiency and the timing for major expenses. It’s important to remember that shaping quality at the beginning of a project …
You’ve started a new project. Your objective is to successfully create and internationally launch a new high-quality product for your company. But, you’re stuck, because you are not sure you know how to ensure success across countries or how to …
(Part 2 in a series of 3 posts on how to project manage your job search. Read Part 1 here.) Once you have decided to treat your job search as a project, you have begun “Project Initiation.” The things you …
Your job search is a project; how to use project management skills to help find a new job.
by Denise Gifford One of the most common mistakes a new project manager can make is to request more information than is needed to run the project. Information is an important resource, but it is not free. Completing forms …
by Steven Lesser Negotiators often have a position that is their rock bottom, their least acceptable deal. Sometimes negotiators communicate this as a take-it-or-leave-it. Some negotiators use the take-it-or-leave-it even when they are not at their minimum deal. When …
How are your listening skills? We all know it’s important to pay attention. But most of us, including me, lose focus from time to time. Why don’t we listen? “I am distracted.” “I don’t like the person.” “They don’t communicate …
by Denise Gifford Do you know what your stakeholders really think about your project? You’ve read their emails. You’ve met with them. You’ve provided reports and solicited feedback. But what are they really thinking? Are they happy with where …
Stakeholder communication matters. What makes a project manager a good communicator? It is not as simple as sharing everything with everyone in a project. In our efforts to keep stakeholders informed, project managers typically communicate too much to too many …
Generally, if you are in business, big or small, you face risks. These may be reflected in the day-to-day management of the business or in a specific project, for example. Business risk is largely under the control of management of …
Let’s face it, we are all comfortable in our routines and practices. We are resistant to change. Yet we complain bitterly when another process or procedure we regard as “inadequate” slows us down. When we consider ways to improve things, …
by Steven Lesser Change is a constant element in both our personal and business lives. Rarely do situations remain static, particularly in the ever-changing technological society in which we live. Since we cannot escape change, the question is, “How can we …
by Steven Lesser According to a recent Strategy + Business article, the risk of being “switched on” continually and the benefits of “shutting down” from time to time are important considerations for managers. Effective managers and leaders learn to differentiate between …
“Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies.” – Groucho Marx As we move closer to this year’s U.S. Presidential election, we are hearing about a lot of issues, …
With the U.S. elections coming in November and the start of the pre-election debates, there is currently a lot of “noise” about what constitutes a good leader, a comparison of leadership styles of the two presidential nominees, Barack Obama and …
Relationship selling is dead, or so contends author Matthew Dixon in his book The Challenger Sale. I think Dixon’s report of the death of relationship selling is an exaggeration. Let’s say relationship selling is evolving. Dixon advocates “challenge selling” over …