Projects Pivot

Hi Reader, 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 hour, let alone navigate the entire month. She’s constantly asking me, “Wait, what are we supposed to do next?” For example, if we’re going on a day trip together, she’s always...

Hi Reader, 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 course, you want to deal with the tummy ache afterward. We tend to treat big projects the same way. The whole kit and kaboodle In my experience, companies often delay starting major initiatives...

Hi Reader, 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 managers struggle to present their work in a way that resonates with leadership. We tend to focus on what we...

Hi Reader, These are lean times. Even with limited resources, such as reduced staff due to layoffs or other reasons, projects can still be managed effectively. Although it may require a different approach than usual, success is possible. Critical resource crunch I’ve participated in many projects where it’s been challenging to pull together the stakeholders. There was one project that stands out. In the beginning, we lost key stakeholders because of a conflict between the company and its...

Hi Reader, Last week, I wrote about how onboarding differs from implementation. Onboarding ensures seamless product integration, laying the foundation for long-term, positive client relationships. But what about onboarding our people? Where do they fit? When onboarding people goes wrong We've all been there: a new team member is set to join, and we've known about their arrival for weeks. We're happy for them to come on board because they possess the exact skillsets we need. Upon arrival, we...