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Learning to Swim
I recently came across a post from business owner Andrew Amann that hit home. He said hiring a big firm like Deloitte to develop your strategy is like “paying someone to teach you to swim by showing you pictures of water.” And, he’s right. You don’t learn to swim by studying pictures. You learn by…
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Who’s Who?
Have you ever heard of a deputy project manager? When I first heard of this role, it sounded like someone the sheriff of an old gold rush town would hire to tidy up Main Street. The person who told me about it does just that – keeping Main Street running smoothly at their company. An…
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Random Things That Distract Us
When I was 18, I dreamed of delivering sailboats for a living. Raised on the northern Great Lakes of Canada, I was a sailing enthusiast who never wanted to be away from water. So, naturally, I decided to become a professional boat-deliverer. Spoiler alert: it didn’t pan out. I didn’t even get to deliver one…
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Rock the Role
Many leaders wrestle with the timing and importance of bringing the right people onto a project. Which roles are truly necessary? When should they join? What title will they give them? It all comes down to the art of effective resourcing—or, as I like to call it, “rocking the role.” In other words, shaping the…
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The Leaky Basement
Are you a planner? If not, no worries—we’ve got your back. I’m always amazed by how many people struggle with planning. It’s not a bad thing—thinking ahead just isn’t everyone’s superpower. A Good Project Manager Friend I have a new-ish friend who can barely keep track of what she needs to do in the next…
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Tips, Tricks and Tidbits: Why Start?
Executives often ask me, “Why start something if we’re unsure we can finish it? It just doesn’t make sense.” Management tends to only begin something when they know it can be completed. If it’s uncertain, they put it on hold—sometimes indefinitely—missing out on what could have been. But what if you simply start with one…
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Tips, Tricks and Tidbits: All or Nothing
Ever feel tempted to finish an entire bag of potato chips once it’s opened? I mean, it’s already open, right? And it seems logical to eat them all before they go stale. But we all know it’s healthier to enjoy them in moderation rather than plowing through the whole bag in one go. Unless, of…
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Tips, Tricks and Tidbits: No More Boring Leadership Project Presentations
We’ve all sat through those project presentations to leadership where the Geeky PM drones on, and not only is everyone bored, they secretly message each other about how to make a quick escape. Over time, I’ve learned to work on five key areas to strengthen when pitching projects to leadership: All of these collectively build…
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PM Tips, Tricks and Tidbits: Communicate Project Value
How do you effectively convey your project’s value to leadership? You know your project is essential. You’ve spent months in the weeds—gathering requirements, aligning stakeholders, prepping for approvals. But here’s the thing: just knowing it’s important isn’t enough. If leadership doesn’t see the value clearly, your project might never get the green light. Many project…
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Creative Project Resourcing
Everywhere we turn lately, companies everywhere are facing the challenge of doing more with less—be it budget, deliverables, or people. How do you manage your project portfolio under these constraints? By getting creative. Outsource: The Fastest Path to Project Success The fastest, easiest way to build out your project portfolio while experiencing a low internal…
