My Weekly Blog – Leadership Perspectives
Is Agile an ‘all or nothing’ approach to project management?
Is Agile an 'all or nothing' approach to project management? No! The Agile methodology has its place - at the right time for the right project in the right environment but where it is most effective is the 'nuggets' or parts that it offers all of us - regardless of...
Tools I Use to Stay Organized
Last week I wrote about staying organized, suggesting I relied on three things… Goals Process Tools I outlined the first two. Today, I present my favourite tools. I love technology, but I’m not married to it. If it’s a manual tool that works for me, I will use it....
How Do You Stay Organized?
Business is booming. Many of us are crazy busy and staying on top of it all can be very tricky. I have a fairly busy life. I blog every week, I always have at least one new book in production, I manage the project management education Schulich Executive Education...
The PIR – Did You Get The Notes From The Last Project?
The truth is that most of us don’t see the notes from the last project. Why? Because they don’t exist. Few organizations take the time and effort to stop what they are doing and go through a proper PIR meeting. So, let’s go through the basics. Maybe, after this,...
Planning is Good – But You Have to Follow Through
A solid strategic execution plan starts with these questions. Just taking the time after the initial planning phase, to go through this list, is more than most organizations will do.
Scalability and Common Sense
We are all guilty at some stage of our lives of using the wrong tool in the wrong place or using the right tool in the wrong way.
‘Where to Now?’ said the Project Manager?
Where to now? Project managers have options these days and that’s the good news.
Motivating Our Project Teams is Not Easy
There are thousands of these resources working for our organizations and they are dying to be empowered with what we know for their ‘sometimes, not very expensive, not mission-critical’ projects.
What About All The Other Projects?
There are thousands of these resources working for our organizations and they are dying to be empowered with what we know for their ‘sometimes, not very expensive, not mission-critical’ projects.
Managing Horizontally – Podcast with Judy McCreery
What are the business outcomes and how do we need to look to get it done?
Healthy Projects Provide a Learning Environment for Everyone
Our projects should create an environment that helps our people learn and grow as professionals.
Healthy Projects Deliver Value to the Customer
Healthy projects deliver value to the business.
Are Your Projects “Healthy”? Part 3
Two weeks ago, I introduced the idea of healthy projects. Healthy projects: contain team members and stakeholders that are happy. have clients that are satisfied. deliver value to the “business”. provide a learning environment for everyone and everything involved,...
Are Your Projects “Healthy”? Part 2
Healthy projects contain happy team members and most of that responsibility lies on the shoulders of the team leader – most often the project manager.
Are Your Projects “Healthy”?
Do any of you put your projects through an annual physical? Okay, maybe not the best title but you know what I mean. As with our own physical, the best news would be that our projects have been given a clean bill of health.
The Art of Decision Making
Good decision making skills are in my top 5 list of the most important leadership qualities. If you ask a group of employees about what they look for in a good leader, you will get many answers. Most certainly, the ability to make good decisions, will rank up there....
How do You Write an Executive Summary?
Executives summaries are the most important element of any report. Do it right and you may hear the words “You had me after the executive summary” instead of “What report are you referring to?”
Five Things I Learned About Communicating with Millennials
Give immediate feedback and respond quickly
Managing Change Every Day – and Interview with John Preiditsch
Change management and strategy execution.
What is the Secret to Starting Every Presentation?
…The art and the science of using the first few minutes of your presentation to ensure that you grab the audience’s attention immediately.
Big Initiatives Require a Sound Process
Rolling out a new idea is tricky in any organization. But you can avoid major headaches as long as you have a plan and involve your people in the process.
To Be Successful You Must Be Seen
Be different. If you are swimming with a big school of fish, no one is going to notice you.
Lessons Learned From Our Home Renovation
Every project, large and small, long and short, personal and professional, needs to be managed carefully.
Are You a Micro-Manager?
Micro-management is a serious leadership issue and one that many of us need to address. Are you one of them?
It’s Different Now
Project managers need to be offering more to our stakeholders than just a report that says we completed the work as requested.
Failure is Not Fun
The most important part of failing for any of us is learning from that failure and applying the lessons learned going forward.
Just Because You Can’t See the Holes Doesn’t Mean They Aren’t There
The foundation of your strategic plan must start with a detailed, in-depth analysis of your organization. Without it we cannot plan the path to our future state.
Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast
Peter Drucker is famous for his line “Culture eats strategy for breakfast”. I have a good friend, business associate and partner in a new book we are writing called “7 Elements for Strategy Execution” who loves to say “Culture eats strategy for lunch, breakfast and...
6 Reasons That Strategic Plans Fail
Numerous online sources will use the number 60% these days – the share of strategic plans that never get off the ground and of the other 40%, they suggest, at least half were not implemented successfully.
How do you encourage candor in the work space?
I wrote this blog back in April 2015 and thought it was worth another read. Tony Gareri is the CEO of Roma Moulding in the Toronto area and submitted a well-crafted article about candor to the Globe and Mail Leadership Lab in March of 2015 (https://goo.gl/SZMEhu). He...
3 Ways to Say Thank You
When was the last time you said, ‘thank you’ unexpectedly to someone on your team? This past weekend was our Canadian Thanksgiving - a wonderful time to spend with family, eat way too much and give thanks. This weekend always gets me thinking about our professional...
Why Should I Consider the PMI®-PBA Certification?
The challenge for today’s project managers is to be unique and be different and stand out in the crowd. This is exactly what a designation in the requirements side of our project work would do for you.
Strategy Execution Culture. You need to be agile.
Developing a Strategy Execution Culture involves a lot of moving parts. One of which is aglity.
You Have to Be Different to Stand Out In The Crowd
Many people, young and old, often wonder why they’re not getting the next promotion or that new job. My question back at them is always the same: Are you standing out? Are you different than the rest of them? Are you unique? If you look the same and sound the same and...
You Will Find Your Next CSO in the PMO
Our critical strategic plans need someone in charge, someone ultimately responsible for the ‘project’ and someone who has the experience dealing with this kind of work in the past.
![Five Things I Learned About Organizational Change Management [OCM]](https://i2.wp.com/davidbarrett.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Change-4.jpg?resize=400%2C250&ssl=1)
Five Things I Learned About Organizational Change Management [OCM]
This is a new version of a post I published in 2014 right after I hosted a gathering of senior resources from various industries for a discussion on OCM. Now I must admit that I wasn’t, by any stretch, the expert in the room. In fact, far from it. That’s why I invited...
Are You An ‘Inspirational’ Leader?
I have been blogging weekly for 4 years now and, as I look at the stats, I see one post - from 2014 – stand above all in total hits – with almost 4000 ‘reads’ since publication. It was called “Key Leadership Trait #10 – The Ability to Inspire” part of a summer series...
Meetings, Meetings, And Fewer Meetings
Fewer productive meetings are far better than more unproductive and inefficient meetings.
The Customer Isn’t the Expert
It’s always nice hear to the word’s “you are the expert – tell us what to do”. But this is not always the case. There are many customers out there who know the solution before you walk in the door. You arrive, they tell you what to build and how and expect you to...
Do Not Bite Off More Than You Can Chew
How many times have you said yes to something and regretted it later? Often these are small decisions producing small pain for the wrong choice. But what happens when it’s a big choice? Like a project or a job?
Rookies Are a Good Thing
All of our organizations should be hiring junior project managers as often as they can – regardless of their experience.
Financials Make It Or Break It
It is critical that the project manager understands the numbers and can manage them.
Never Skip a Formal Project Kickoff
Call it a Team Charter and spend a little more time than a 20-minute phone call and it will pay off in spades!
Give Me More Dashboards
Project managers are notoriously too detailed. We need to learn how to communicate succinctly and clearly and stop rambling on. Today I continue my summer series based on Brad Egeland’s (www.BradEgeland.com) article that appeared in www.ProjectTimes.com early July...
Rely on Experience, Not Certification
ProjectTimes is a great portal for project managers from all walks of life. When I created it in 1997, it was a cute little magazine for PMs. Eventually, when people smarter than me got involved, it started to ramp up to what it is now. Well done...
How Do You Build a PMO?
If you treat your PMO like you should with any other project, you will be successful.
Every Strategic Plan needs a Communication Plan
A few years ago, I came across an organization that was having a real morale issue within the ranks. It turns out that there were a number of things contributing to this issue but in the end, the most significant cause turned out to be the strategic plan. ...
Are Your Meetings Really Worth It?
(Edited from a previous posting in July, 2015) The statistics are staggering… 37 percent of employee time is spent in meetings managers attend more than 60 meetings per month 47% consider too many meetings the biggest waste of time 39% of meeting participants admitted...
Do You Ask Enough Questions?
Do you ask enough questions? Do you ask any at all? You should.
Get Your Audience To Pay Attention
Whether you are a junior project manager, a senior corporate leader or a professional speaker the rules are the same. You will always run the risk of losing your audience if you don’t pay attention to these rules.
5 Tips for Your Next Lessons Learned Exercise
Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it
Do You Know Your PMDs? – Project Management Deficiencies
Every great project manager has one or more PMD – even you. If you don’t believe it, you are fooling yourself.
Do You Know Any Part Time Project Managers?
When we are asked to impart our wisdom on ‘part-time’ project managers, we often make the mistake of making it too complicated, too detailed and thus extremely overwhelming.
Do You Have a Positive Attitude?
When the bad times hit, you need to stay positive.
Are You Crisis Ready?
Crisis management and preparedness is critical for all of us – professionally and personally.
The Most Important Project Management Skill is Good Communications
A project manager’s primary job is to deliver information about his or her project in a timely manner, to the right people, in the right format. Keeping all stakeholders updated on important project information is critical and, in my mind, probably the number one job...
What is Project Outcome Management? -An Interview with Dan Watt
Dan Watt talks about Business Outcome Management and the role of the project manager.
Do You Set Clear, Achievable Expectations?
As a manager, project or otherwise, your team needs a set of clear expectations and objectives laid out for them and reviewed on a regular basis.
Are you Committed?
“Unless commitment is made, there are only promises and hopes… but no plans.”
One minute video series – Project Branding
Great ProjectTalk on Project Branding yesterday in Detroit.
Passion Sells
If you are selling, influencing or educating, get passionate and show it. Let them know that you really believe what you are saying – through voice, your physical presence or even the written word.
Can You Sell?
If you are a leader of any sort I challenge you to look at your selling skills.
Who is Your Coach?
It doesn’t matter how good you are or where you stand in your profession – you should have a coach.
Is Delegation One of Your Strengths?
Delegation is a key management skill: project management, general management, operational management and you need to be good at it.
All Leaders Need To Be Creative
Leaders need to think creatively and out-of-the-box.
What Is the Most Important Role of A Project Manager?
The most important role of a project manager is that of an integrator.
Always Start Your First Project Meeting On Time
You need to set an example right off the bat. Take control right at the front end and I promise you will have control, at least of the timing, of every meeting in the future. Everyone will arrive on time.
Building the PMO the Right Way – an Interview with Amy Burnet
There are so many ways to build a PMO – Project Management Office. Many are the wrong way. In this interview with Amy Burnet, past Sr. Director, Program Management Office at CIBC, we talk about the right way to approach your new PMO.
Smile!
Put your happiness to good use every day! Smile. It helps all of us around you.
Does Your Project Sponsor Know What They Are Doing?
The relationship between sponsor and project manager needs to be a priory in your next project – establish it early and be clear from the start.
Do you have a Sense of Humor?
We need to lighten up every once in a while and this is the responsibility of today’s leaders.
How Confident Are You?
Self-confidence is the fundamental basis from which leadership grows. Trying to teach leadership without first building confidence is like building a house on a foundation of sand. It may have a nice coat of paint, but it is ultimately shaky at best.
Happy New Year – Are You Ready?
At this time of the year I really appreciate the value of a good plan for the future and I certainly appreciate the opportunity to re-evaluate and re-plan for the year to come
3 Ways a Project Manager Can Stand Up and Get Noticed
Project managers need to find a way to stand-out in a very crowded field.
Scale it Down
We need to take a close look at how we use the tools in our lives and whether we need to scale it down?
Are You a Micro-manager?
Micro-management is a serious leadership issue and one that many of us need to address.
How Are You at Managing Expectations?
…no one wants to be surprised. Manage everyone’s expectations early and often.
Thank You
Ladies and gentleman, weather you do it by phone or in person, by letter, email, FaceTime or even a text message, it is a good time to say thank you to those around you who make you who you are.
Are You a Good Corporate Ambassador?
Corporate ambassadors are able to respond to that standard question clearly, succinctly, and in a format that does the organization proud.
3 Leadership Tips When Everything Is Going Well
With things going well, there are loads of opportunities for us as leaders. Take advantage of the good times and use them to better your team and yourself.
Is Agile Here to Stay?
Agile was challenged to become a force within our project environments and it has certainly done that.
3 Ways to Help Your Boss Succeed
There are many things we can do to contribute to our future success like continuous learning, networking and professional strategic planning. But the one that always sticks out in my mind is helping your boss and, in fact others around you, to be successful.
Every Project Team Needs a Whale
Every project team needs a member who can add the most important element to the success of any team: compassion. I was introduced to a very simple model for understanding the human dynamic within teams by Troy McClain (themcclaincompanies.com). I met Troy about...
What is the Core Element of a Leadership Position?
I read a great interview recently in the Globe and Mail Report on Business by Brenda Bouw with David Garofalo, CEO of Vancouver-based Goldcorp Inc. The questions ranged from where and how did you grow up to what are your priorities as a leader? Here is...
5 Things Project Managers Can Do Now for Leadership Positions Tomorrow
Corporations are looking for their leaders of tomorrow. Project managers are great fit but they need to make it known that there interested in the need to show that they’re doing everything they can to be qualified and considered.
Four Reasons Why Project Managers Make Great Leaders
Organizations, if they have not already done so, are waking up and realizing that they need to find their future leaders quickly. The project management team is a great place to start looking.
What Are The First 5 Steps You Take at the Start of a Project?
Every successful project manager needs a plan - a plan that will kick in the moment they are assigned to a project and runs through to completion. Within the first few years of all of our project management careers we are introduced to many project management...
Do You Make Project Change Management a Daily Priority?
Managing project change is all about working and managing people.
When was the last time you said “Why is my organization doing this project?”
This is a reprint of a post from March 4, 2014. Or were you to afraid? How many of us have the nerve to ask this – after we have spent so much time, money and energy on the project? Gary Heerkens suggests “Your ability to answer this question...
It’s Time to Take a Leap
By taking a leap outside the normal, we challenge ourselves to do things differently, think differently and work differently.
Things Smart Business People Do – They Are Always Learning
Continuous learning is the mark of great leader and certainly, as well, the mark of future success in any business.
Things Good Leaders Do – They Stay in Touch
Place a priority on meeting with customers regularly. There is no substitute for getting feedback on performance directly from a customer.
Things Good Leaders Do – They are Contrarian by Nature
Smart business people, and great leaders “are contrarian by nature. They believe that the source of opportunity lies not in copying what others are doing, but rather charting a course that no one else is on. They are ‘180-degree thinkers.’
Things Good Leaders Do – Spend Time on the Coalface
Smart business people spend copious amounts of time with the front line; ‘on the coal face’ where customer meets company.
6 Leadership Tips From an NHL Executive
The Globe and Mail carried a great article on July 18, 2016, entitled “You need to be humble, you need to allow others to lead”. This article was written by Geoff Molson, President, CEO of CH Group Limited Partnership, owner of the Montreal Canadiens, Bell Center and...
Things Good Leaders Do – They Are “Mindless” About Execution
I continue my summer review my friend, Roy Osing’s, article from The Globe and Mail on June 3, 2016 entitled “10 Things Smart Business People Do”. Smart business people, or leaders, are “mindless” about execution. Roy writes, ‘They are comfortable with...
Things Good Leaders Do – They Become Known Champions of Change
Smart business people, or leaders, makes themselves champions of change. Roy suggest that this “gives them currency in the organization and the ability to garner resources to get things done.”
Things Good Leaders Do – Avoid the Perfect Solution
Smart business people, or leaders, don’t look for perfection, suggests Roy. “The quest for the perfect solution (which doesn’t exist in any event) only takes valuable time away from execution. They understand that success is a function of doing lots of imperfect stuff fast.”
Things Good Leaders Do – Align Tactical Activity to the Strategic Game Plan
Good leaders know how to carry strategy through execution to completion. They know how to tie strategy to everything the organization does from the bottom right through to the top. And these leaders know how to create a culture that supports the strategic plan:
The Friday Report: What Executives and Project Sponsors Really Want From Us
As a project sponsor or executive, I have a level of expectations that I have established, or that has been established for me, for any project
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