Project Risk Coach

    Category Archives for Personal Development

    Is Poor Public Speaking Hurting Your Project Management Career?

    Great project managers are great communicators. And we are often required to inform, persuade, inspire, and lead others. Let's look at how public speaking may be hurting your career and twelve ways to become a better speaker.

    So, what is public speaking (also called oratory)? It is the process or act of performing a speech to a live audience.

    When does this occur for project managers? Every time you lead a meeting. When you train others. Presentations to senior management. Board meetings. 

    There are also opportunities to advance your career outside of your day-to-day projects. I regularly speak at PMI Chapter meetings and project management symposiums (which earns me PMI Professional Development Units). 

    How do you feel about public speaking? According to the Washington Post, public speaking is one of our top fears (followed closely by bugs, snakes, and other animals). 

    Here's the good news. You can learn to be a better speaker. Yes, it takes practice, but you can improve your confidence and your skills. Consequently, you will boost your career opportunities. Here's how.

    rocket

    “Fully 85 percent of your success as a leader will be determined by your ability to communicate effectively with others.” -Brian Tracy

    12 Ways to Improve Your Public Speaking

    1. Focus more on your audience and less on yourself. Think about your opportunity to serve others, to provide individuals and groups with knowledge, and to inspire others.
    2. Incrementally increase the size of the audience. Take baby steps.  Start small. Incrementally ask for more challenging events with larger audiences.
    3. Practice at meetings. Every time you lead a meeting, you have an opportunity to develop your public speaking skills. Work on the openings for your meetings. Practice the delivery.
    4. Learn through teaching. I love to teach! As I have taught through the years, I have learned to be a better communicator. You too can improve your communication skills by teaching.
    5. Build and manage your energy reserve. I often run the day before I speak at a PMI Chapter or symposium. This helps ensure that my mind is clear and sharp. When I can, I walk 5 to 10 minutes before I speak. This helps me relax.
    6. Arrive early. I always arrive early to get set up and ensure that everything is prepared.
    7. Always take backup equipment. Your host may say they have all the necessary equipment. They mean well, but things don’t always go as planned. I always carry backup equipment just in case I need it.
    8. Breathe deeply. When you feel nervous, take long, deep breaths before you speak. This has a calming effect.
    9. Join Toastmasters. I don’t know of a better way to improve your public speaking. Give it a try.
    10. Watch TED Talks. And here is a book tip: read “How to Deliver a Ted Talk.”
    11. Smile. When I first look into the eyes of my audience, I scan the room a few moments and smile. Positive, first impressions are critical!
    12. Make eye contact. During my speech, I make eye contact with one person, pause a few seconds, and rotate to another person and continue this pattern. All along, I pretend I am having a one-on-one conversation.

    It’s Your Turn

    Where can you improve your public speaking skills? In what ways? Identify an area or two that you will work on. Look through this list of 12 ways to improve your public speaking, and work on a few at a time.

    10 Terrific Traits of Exceptional Project Managers

    Think about the project managers you've worked with through the years. Which ones were unusually good? Which ones qualify as exceptional project managers?

    I've had the privilege of working with hundreds of project managers in my career. Here are some of the traits and behaviors that made them stand out. How many of these traits do you possess?

    rocket

    "Success is walking from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." -Winston Churchill

    1. Persistent

    “Success is walking from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.” -Winston Churchill

    Projects are filled with pot-holes. Project managers and their team members make mistakes, create defective products, and stumble. Persistent project managers learn from their failures and lead with renewed enthusiasm.

    2. Opportunistic

    “Opportunities don’t happen; you create them.” -Chris Grosser

    Project managers are risk managers that identify, assess, and manage risks including threats and opportunities. Great project managers have an eye for seeing, exploiting, and enhancing opportunities.

    Continue reading

    5 Reasons to Get Your PMI-RMP® Certification

    I recently had a project manager ask me which of the PMI certifications he should pursue. That depends—it depends on your goals as a project manager. Certainly, the Project Management Professional (PMP)® and the Project Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP)® certifications supercharged my project management career.

    I became a Project Management Professional (PMP) in 2001. And in 2012, I became in PMI-RMP. There were several reasons I choose the PMI-RMP certification.

    PMI-RMP Certification Benefits

    1. To improve my project success rate. What’s the project success rate for your organization? Thirty percent? Fifty percent? Project risk management gives you the ability to identify and assess risks, mitigate threats, and capitalize on opportunities. Hence, improve your success.
    2. To help my organization with risk management, top to bottom. I served as the Director of Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) for a large insurance company. Our ERM policy and processes were largely developed based on what I had learned about risk management as a PMP and PMI-RMP. Risk management always involves identifying, evaluating, responding to risks, and monitoring risks. Furthermore, these processes may be applied at different levels of an organization—enterprise, departments or business units, portfolios, programs, and projects.
    3. To increase my career opportunities. If you’ve been in the project management job market lately, you have seen the high percentage of employers looking for certified project managers. Having an additional certification provides project managers with a wider range of opportunities—it’s like having a double major. Most noteworthy, employee compensation surveys report that certified project managers enjoy higher salaries compared to uncertified project managers.
    4. To sharpen my saw. Life gets stale when we’re not learning new things. I like to sharpen my saw physically, socially, mentally, and spiritually. Likewise, pursuing the PMI-RMP was a challenging and rewarding journey that helped me grow professionally.
    5. To boost my knowledge and expertise. Any time we invest in ourselves by focusing on our profession is time well spent. Consequently, we’re going to get better at what we do. Studying and applying risk management principles has helped me learn practical tips, tools, and techniques.
    rocket

    "Eighty-three percent of organizations that are high performers in project management practice risk management frequently while just 49 percent of low performers do so." —Pulse of Profession report

    How to Jump-Start Your PMI-RMP​ Certification Process

    So, how does one get started? 

    First, check out the PMI Risk Management (PMI-RMP) Handbook. To be eligible for the certification, you must meet certain educational and professional experience requirements.

    The Handbook provides a timeline of the PMI-RMP Certification Process. You will discover the exam policies and procedures. Furthermore, the application process and fees are explained.

    Second, determine the resources that you plan to use. What books and courses will you use? 

    Third, develop a study plan. When will you study each week? Will you prepare along or with a group?

    The PMI-RMP Exam

    The certification exam has 170 multiple-choice questions. And you have 3.5 hours to complete it. To maintain your PMI-RMP, you must earn 30 professional development units in risk management topics every three years.

    Asking for Project Management Advice

    I've observed scores of project managers through the years. Some manage projects with no input from others. Others are not afraid of asking for project management advice. How about you?

    Have you ever been lost without a GPS or map? Not sure where you are or how to get to where you want to be? I've been there. It's nerve-racking and embarrassing, particularly if you have passengers.

    project management advice

    So, what's the wise thing to do? Ask for directions, right? Find the path that leads to your destination.

    But some people fail to do this in projects. Are you a lone ranger? You know the guy or gal who needs no input from others.

    Are You a Lone Ranger?

    One response I sometimes get when I encourage project managers to seek advice is, "Well, I'm the project manager. How I manage this project is no one else's business." 

    I've had some project managers tell me about their Project Management Professional (PMP) designation or about how they've started two Project Management Offices or how they've been managing projects more than 15 years. 

    I'm glad for their strong backgrounds and credentials, but it concerns me when I encounter the lone ranger mindset. No matter the accomplishments or how long one has led projects, we can all benefit from wise counsel.

    Furthermore, when your project goes south, it impacts other people. Your team members. Management. Customers. Your company. Vendors. Partners.

    And when things go awry, you will be criticized by these same stakeholders. Since people are going to talk about you, why not invite them to talk to you before you make your project decisions.

    Here's what I know. When you realize that you made poor decisions, who will you likely go to for advice? Who are you gonna call?

    Answer: It's not Ghostbusters. People often seek out the very people they chose to ignore earlier in their projects.

    Seeking Advice From Peers

    There's another class of project managers that are a step ahead of the lone rangers. When these people get stuck, they dial a friend. 

    Bill talks to his peer Linda. Bill and Linda both were hired the same year and both have two years of experience in project management. They are good friends and have relied on each other for advice.

    Think about it. This is like one neighbor asking another neighbor for advice on investing when both have little knowledge and experience in the first place. It's not a bad thing. It's just not the best. 

    In contrast, other project managers have discovered the gold mine of seasoned and experienced project managers.

    rocket

    "Never take advice from people who aren't getting the results you want to experience." -Michael Hyatt

    Seeking Advice From Experienced Project Managers

    Why seek advice from experienced project managers? Well, these experienced project managers have been down the road many times. They have a perspective on things that is gained only through the school of hard knocks. These seasoned individuals can answer your toughest questions.

    Politics. Difficult team members. Unengaged project sponsors. Unrealistic expectations from management. They've dealt with it all. Not once, but many times.

    So, when's the best time to seek advice? Yes, you can ask for help when issues occur. Better yet, get their insights earlier when planning and considering significant project decisions.

    From whom should we receive advice? Seek experienced individuals in your industry as well as those who are getting the results you want. Why talk to a financial advisor who is broke? Likewise, why seek advice from a project manager who rarely completes a project on budget and on time?

    Another point, consider the possibility of talking to more than one person. In some cases, I've asked two or three seasoned individuals to meet together with me. The interaction provided insights that I would not have heard otherwise.

    rocket

    "Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed." Proverbs 15:22

    Never Stop Learning and Teaching

    Take some time today to think about your projects. What is one area where you would benefit from the input of others? Ask an experienced project manager if you may buy them a cup of coffee and get their advice concerning a challenge you've encountered. Many individuals will be flattered and happy to help.

    But there's another side of this coin. No matter how long you've been managing projects, you have experience too (more than others who are just starting). Offer to share your knowledge and experience. Whenever you teach others, you reinforce what you've learned for yourself. Pay it forward!

    10 Ways to Become a Better Project Manager

    Are you a better project manager today than you were a year ago? In what ways do you want to grow in the next year? Schedule management. Cost management. Requirements management. Leadership.

    In his book Talent Is Overrated, Geoffrey Colvin says simply doing an activity is no guarantee that you’ll do it well, much less get better at it. In a significant number of cases, people get worse at their jobs over time.

    Whether you are working on your first project or you have been managing projects for years, we must be intentional about our personal development and growth.

    Excellence Requires More Than Repetition

    "Simply doing an activity is no guarantee that you’ll do it well, much less get better at it. In a significant number of cases, people get worse at their jobs over time." —Geoff Colvin

    Tips to Become a Better Project Manager

    Here are some 10 practical tips to boost your knowledge and skills. Pick one or two activities and schedule time in your calendar to take action.

    1. Read

    In 1851, the German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer wrote, "Reading is equivalent to thinking with someone else's head instead of with one's own." Reading project management books and blogs is like having a conversation with the authors. You get inside their minds. You gain valuable insights. Click here to see my personal Project Management Bookshelf.

    2. Get a Project Management Credential

    One of the best ways to improve your project management knowledge is through acquiring a project management credential. The credential process forces you to invest a significant amount of time in learning and understanding project management principals, tools, and techniques. Check out the PMI Credentials.

    3. Ask for Challenging Projects

    If you run 5K races, how can you become a stronger runner? Run 10K races.

    Ask for more challenging projects that allow you to expand your knowledge into other areas of your company. Look for projects that allow you to utilize newly gained project management knowledge.

    4. Find a Mentor

    If you take on challenging projects, ask a more experienced project manager for coaching. We can all benefit from guidance and coaching, no matter how long we have been managing projects. 

    When asking someone to mentor you, be clear about your expectations. How long do you want to be mentored? How often would you like to meet? What are you hoping to learn?

    5. Mentor Someone

    Once you have gained experience, mentor other project managers. Let a project manager or two know that you are available to help them. As you mentor others, you will not only help your mentees, you will gain much yourself.

    6. Ask for Feedback

    Consistently seek feedback. If you lead a meeting, ask someone after the meeting what you can do to improve future meetings. If you speak or make a presentation, ask a trusted peer to jot down observations, good and bad, to share with you afterward.

    7. Keep a Project Journal

    I have found keeping a project journal very helpful. Journaling allows me to capture my thoughts, vent when I need to, and provides perspective as I review the chronology of my projects. For more information, see my blog post on 7 Benefits of Keeping a Project Journal.

    8. Sleep and Nap More

    I know this item seems out of place, but getting adequate sleep is essential for great performance. The average American gets 6 1/2 hours of sleep per night. Several studies have demonstrated significant improvements in performance and in our ability to learn when we get adequate sleep.

    You owe it to yourself - read Tony Schwartz’s post on Sleep Is More Important Than Food.

    9. Do Things That Matter

    Stop wasting your time on trivial things. Focus on the things that get results. Remember, the 80/20 rule. Of the things you do every day, only about 20% really matter.

    10. Review Lessons Learned

    Check with your PMO or experienced project managers to see if you can get access to lessons learned. Why make mistakes that others have already made? Discover what others have learned through the school of hard knocks.

    Question: I am sure you have thought of other helpful tips. What would you add?

    7 Benefits of Keeping a Project Journal

    Perhaps you are like me. You have lots of thoughts darting around in your mind. If you are looking for a way to sort and organize your thoughts, let’s look at the benefits of keeping a project journal.

    Project managers are busy people, often managing multiple projects. During the course of a day, you may encounter all kinds of things–schedule conflicts, people issues, poor leadership by your sponsors, too many meetings, and scope creep, to name a few. Furthermore, we are so busy that it’s hard to find time to make sense of it all.

    Author, blogger and speaker Michael Hyatt says, “…journaling is a means to an end. It helps me think more deeply about my life, where it is going, and what it means.” This is not only true for our personal lives, but journaling helps with our professional lives.

    project manager keeping a project journal

    Benefits of Project Journaling 

    Here are seven ways I benefit from my project journal:Continue reading

    5 Things You Should Know About the PMI-RMP®

    Every project has risks—events or conditions that, if they occur, have positive or negative effects on a project’s objectives.  And project managers are risk managers, some better than others. If you want to improve your project success through better risk management, consider getting certified as a Risk Management Professional. Here are some things you should know about the PMI-RMP.

    picture of someone taking an PMI-RMP® exam on a computer

     

    1. What is the PMI-RMP®?

    The PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP) is a designation offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI). This credential is for project management professionals who wish to demonstrate specialized knowledge and skills in project risk management.Continue reading

    How to Respond to Difficult Presentation Questions

    Project managers often give presentations to groups such as senior leaders, boards, and third-party vendors. The truth is most people are afraid of public speaking. After all, we may make a mistake and be criticized. Let’s discuss how to respond to difficult and sometimes unexpected presentation questions. 

    picture of microphone

    8 Ways to Respond to Questions

    Allow me to share a few tips that can help you to answer with greater ease:Continue reading

    How to Engage Participants in a Project Management Workshop

    John, Sally, and Bill just left a full-day project management workshop. John said, “Am I the only one who felt like I just wasted a day?” Sally replied, “The trainer lost me in the first thirty minutes. At least, I caught up on my email during the day.”

    pictures-of-people-in-training

    Are you responsible for project management workshops for a PMI Chapter, a Project Management Office (PMO), or your organization? Want to ensure that your participants get maximum value? Let’s talk about how to design workshops that are engaging. Project managers will leave your workshops excited about what they learned.

    Whether you are the trainer or the VP of Programs for a PMI Chapter or something similar, here are some principles to help you design your workshops.Continue reading

    Why PMPs Should Actually Read the PMBOK 6th Edition

    The Project Management Institute (PMI) released the PMBOK 6th Edition on September 6th, 2017. Some certified project managers may respond with, “Ho-hum. I’m glad I got my certification behind me.” However, I think PMPs and other certified project managers should actually read the PMBOK 6th edition. Why?

    [callout]PMI Members can download their PDF copy of the PMBOK 6th Edition.[/callout]

    Four Reasons to Read the PMBOK Guide 6th Edition

    1. Stay Current

    PMI conducts Role Delineation Studies for each certification every five to seven years. These studies help PMI understand how project managers perform their duties and lead cross-functional teams within the constraints of schedule, budget, and scope.Continue reading

    1 2 3 4