Communication

April 30, 2023 | Insights | Helen S. Cooke

6 Ways Project Managers Can Advance Their Careers

in a volatile market, impressing top brass becomes more important

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 …

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  • February 24, 2023 | Insights | Denise Gifford

    An Interview with ChatGPT on Asking the Right Questions

    ChatGPT gives wrong answers—for tips on preventing this, we turned to the source

    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 …

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  • December 30, 2022 | Knowledge | Denise Gifford

    Building Effective Client-Consultant Relationships

    these 14 questions will help you assess the strength of the relationship

    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 …

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  • November 30, 2022 | Insights | Helen S. Cooke

    In a Crisis, Project Managers Are Needed

    infamous tragedies remind us that the type of management matters

    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 …

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  • May 31, 2022 | Knowledge | Denise Gifford

    Moving Beyond Stalemate in Your Business Negotiations

    these 7 tricks might convert your stalemate into a renewed relationship   

    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 …

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  • April 14, 2022 | Knowledge | Helen S. Cooke

    Five Strategies for Successful Stakeholder Management

    How to manage complex projects while keeping stakeholders happy

    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 …

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  • October 5, 2021 | Insights | Denise Gifford

    The Hybrid Workplace Introduces New Challenges and Novel Solutions

    Employees working from home are at risk of becoming second tier

    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 …

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  • September 23, 2021 | Insights | Scotty Hendricks

    Machine Learning Has Advanced, But Natural Language is a Hurdle

    even with recent advances in AI, computers can’t really understand human language

    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 …

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  • August 13, 2021 | Knowledge | Denise Gifford

    5 Ways Consultants Habitually Improve Their Game

    learning from each gig and client should be part of your process 

    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 …

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  • April 17, 2021 | Knowledge | Denise Gifford

    Reaching Agreement in Client-Consultant Relationships

    These 13 questions will help you navigate difficulties and disagreements 

    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 …

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  • October 21, 2020 | Knowledge | Denise Gifford

    14 Questions Consultants Ask to Improve Client Relations

    It’s all about communication

    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 …

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  • September 22, 2020 | Knowledge | Helen S. Cooke

    Preparing for Project Initiation

    Questions to ask when starting a project

    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 …

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