Have you ever been in a meeting where someone uttered the phrase, “but we’ve always done it this way,” as if that somehow makes it okay? Yeah, me too. And if I’m being completely honest, that moment often perfectly illustrates the point that we need to do better. To shake off the dust and cobwebs...
Practical systems have made me a more productive Project Manager. I used to worry about tools that helped with my workload, ironically. Did they diminish my role? Should I be thinking more on my feet? I’ve come to understand that systems are the foundation of successful individuals. They squeeze more tasks into each day. Systems...
The COVID-19 pandemic forced organizations to transform their operations during the first six months of 2020, with lockdowns and social distancing rules driving a massive shift from centralized office working to remote working, affecting teams across all departments and putting many projects on hold. Moving into the second half of the year, the pressure is...
In the early stages of a project, there is often a certain task, assignment, or end goal the company, team, or business is looking to achieve. Whether it’s to increase the sales of a certain product or service, enhance the efficiency within the company’s operations, or analyze a company’s corporate finances, there are lots of...
Change is an inescapable reality. Perhaps there’s no other entity that can genuinely attest to this than a business. Sometimes, change comes from within, in one’s attempt to improve. At other times, it’s external, in the form of new market preferences, competitor landscape, or government regulations. Today, the change is wrapped in a crisis. The...
In today’s overflow of media and the latest information, it can be easy to get distracted and even overwhelmed on a daily basis. Productivity is key to achieving the resolutions you set (what feels like oh, so long ago,) but how can you maintain the focus and energy needed every day to achieve them? It...
“Dear Elizabeth: I am working with a group of very knowledgeable subject matter experts. They have 15-20+ years of experience in the field, many of those years in our company. We cannot deliver our technology project without them. They are experts in the field, but they are really bad at forecasting time, work effort, and...
Projects can get delayed for many reasons from third party suppliers failing to deliver on time, to poor communication between project stakeholders sometimes the deliverables are simply not realistic within the project constraints. Then there are the unpredictable and devastating external factors like COVID-19 that disrupt on an unprecedented scale. Countless projects have been delayed...
It’s probably safe to assume that you’re aware of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) as well as the worldwide push for social distancing. You can’t go see your family, your friends, or any live music — but what you can do is make the most out of your time. If that seems impossible now, don’t worry....
Working remotely offers some fantastic benefits, but you have to balance these with the responsibility to manage your time effectively and to be productive. For all the digital technology available that enables you to work remotely, there are still some common mistakes that can impede you from being as productive as you might have hoped....
Having been given a temporary break from the ‘time tax’ of pre-crisis commutes and the physical separation of a traditional office, my wife Sue and I have built time into our workdays for morning coffee and afternoon walks. On one such walk this week, she remarked, “We are lucky, aren’t we?” My initial response was...
While working from home, a shocking reality has emerged for many of us as we share space not designed for — or intended as — our fulltime office. How will we navigate this new reality? Are we doomed to daily frustration or fortunate to spend more time with those who love we most — even...