Words of Wisdom
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"People follow people, not plans. Are you someone people willingly follow?"
- Lisa Marie Platske, Upside Thinking, Inc.
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About PM focus
PM focus is a free, quarterly publication of Project Managers, Inc.
For more information about the firm, please visit our website: www.ProjectMgrs.com
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Flying under the Radar
By Bob Metzler - Senior Consultant & Managing Director
So often consultants enter a new client's office with our project bag of tools and associated project language. We usually begin by telling our client "how to do" project management, work plans, status reports, issue tracking, issue escalation, governance, change request process, escalation process, timelines, milestones, project deliverables, the lifecycle , communication plans, process improvement, Six Sigma, toll gates, etc". By the time you have finished your clients' eyes are crossed, their heads are spinning and the room is filled with the sound of silence. If I was the client I would run out of the room screaming, "STOP".
How about an alternative approach that is "just do it"? I know Nike is famous for bringing this simple approach to light. Let's say it is time that I get into shape and I want to start a jogging/running program. The simple approach is to get a pair of running shoes that are comfortable and put one foot in front of the other. Start slowly, short distances and gradually OVER TIME speed up and run longer distances. Don't over do it and if you hurt, then rest and recover - a very simple, easy process with easy to follow instructions.
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All About Leadership
The following is from The ABC's of Leadership - A Highly Opinionated List, by Ann Depta of Meridian Consulting Group. We announced in 2009 a partnership with Meridian to provide our consultants professional leadership coaching through a series of quarterly workshops called "Influencing without Authority." Meridian is celebrating their 20th anniversary this year and we would like to pass along our congratulations and appreciation.
W is for Worth. Do you enable your employees to
develop self-worth or do you gradually cause it to go into decline?
I is for Integrity. We only need to look around at the
so-called "leadership" in our corporations and political
organizations to see that integrity has been sorely lacking in our
culture. Each of us must model integrity ourselves if we want this to change.
N is for Networking. Powerful leaders build alliances
with others both within and outside the organization.
T is for Teambuilding. Leadership success depends upon
more than you. Learn how to build a cohesive team. To understand what
teams should look like, read The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick
Lencioni, the best book on team development that I've ever come across.
E is for Enthusiasm. If you
don't demonstrate enthusiasm for your company and the deliverables of your
group, how do you expect your employees to be enthusiastic and motivated?
R is for Rapport. One of the primary keys to
effective leadership is developing the ability to have rapport with
others. This may or may not include empathy, but learning to have empathy
is a huge plus.
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