Classic Project Blunders

Project Planning Blunder #1.

Watch as an organization faced with a serious external threat assembles its senior management to respond with a PM to manage the effort. Watch the video and spot where the PM made his mistakes and decide, just like our 4PM.com students do, what the PM should have done to carry the day.
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Regards,
Dick Billows, PMP

Yeah, I Communicate Real Good

While the grammar in the title is offensive, I think it captures the attitude many project managers have towards their communication skills. Everybody thinks they're a good communicator, particularly those with well recognized technical skills. But the vast majority of project managers are poor communicators largely because they use the same communication techniques and style for every stakeholder, team member and sponsor with whom they deal.

Project managers must communicate with people who possess a wide range of personality types. We deal with extroverts who enjoy discussion, debate and like to think on their feet. The way you communicate to the extroverts in your meeting is very different from the best communication technique for the introverts who want time to think and internalize the information before making a decision or even expressing an opinion.

These differences in communication techniques are not just how you talk but also how you organize your PowerPoint presentation, what body language techniques you should use, the structure of the presentation, what kind of information you give them advanced and how you follow up afterwards.

Take a look at the video lecture on presenting to diverse personality types with 10 minutes the scene from project meeting with project managers who are failing and then see them adapt their communication style to the audience and they are much better securing approval in building support.

Very truly yours,

Dick Billows, PMP, GCA

President 4pm.com

Project Methodology

Watch the video and see the steps in a straightforward project methodology, based on driving projects to produce measured business results. The Acheivement-driven Project Methodology (AdPM™)is scalable so you can use it on all size projects. It improves estimating accuracy, provides measured checkpoints for executives and assignment clarity for team members. AdPM also complies with all the best practices of the PMBOK 3rd edition.

Contribute you ideas on methodolgy

Dick Billows, PMP, GCA
President 4pm.com