October 13, 2015 |
Knowledge
Plan ahead to get the most out of project resources
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 …
April 15, 2015 |
Knowledge
It pays to know your bottom line
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 …
February 12, 2015 |
Knowledge
Why you need to commit to listen
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 …
July 24, 2014 |
Knowledge
How to tune in to non-verbal communication
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 …
February 23, 2014 |
Knowledge
Four key steps for project managers
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 …
December 17, 2012 |
Knowledge
Recognize business risk when you see it
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 …
December 12, 2012 |
Knowledge
A strategy to deliver solutions
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, …
November 28, 2012 |
Knowledge
Managing change: the keys to success
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 …
November 7, 2012 |
Knowledge
Improve meetings by focusing on what's important
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 …
October 24, 2012 |
Knowledge
Take time to really understand the issues
“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, …
October 14, 2012 |
Knowledge
There's no "right" leadership personality
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 …
September 18, 2012 |
Knowledge
Building trust will transform your client relationships
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 …