Project Junction

4 responses so far ↓

• 1 Jerry Stone // Aug 21, 2008 at 10:33 pm

  John,
  Great job on presentation. Thanks for the tips (staying true to core philosophy, team tune up). Appreciate learning something that I can put to practice tomorrow. Excellent example of using powerpoint as guide and not literally reading word for word on each slide as some presenters do.
  Thanks
  Jerry

• 2 Mark // Aug 26, 2008 at 9:55 pm

  John:

  Just finished listening to your presentation from the August 21 session of the “PM Lessons Learned” podcast.

  While I regret not having had an opportunity to attend the conference call, I must admit that I found the podcast to be very helpful. Your elaborations on several of the methods and techniques to address “bad” behavior, both in tone and delivery, were particularly useful and I intend to instill and experiment with many of them in my project management processes going forward. I particularly benefitted from, for lack of a better description on my part (my apologies), your “PM Philosophy” mission statement. I found this element concise with easily understood metaphors.

  On your next iteration, please provide more elaboration on your thresholds or standards for “directionally correct data” and its criticality on team processes and collaboration. I believe that this is also a hidden gem on lessening the project static and “bad” behavior on teams. [Your thoughts?]

  In addition, the strategically placed mission statement at the “gateway” to the project workspace or repository is, in my opinion, a stroke of genius.

  On this latter point, the naysayers and negative stakeholders are often the first to dismiss such efforts as trivial or only words; yet, as is so often the case they are the first to complain at the slightest “perceived” affront to “their” core values. Yet, your method at the project “gateway” does lend greater credibility and continuity to the project effort and is a technique that I would also like to employ going forward.

  In closing, I agree with your final comments that the most common distinction shared by outstanding project managers is their ability to guide the team’s evolution to the next level. This requires, as Jack Welch and Ram Charan advocate, proactive confrontation (candor) and the “practiced” execution of a repertory of soft skills.

  Keep up the good work.

  Best wishes,

  Mark

• 3 John Langlois // Aug 27, 2008 at 7:41 am

  @Mark,

  Thank you for your very detailed feedback. You asked for a standard for using “directionally correct data. ”

  My response was a bit long so I’ve opted to make it my “Monday Post.” I’ll describe two examples: collecting earned values and running business cases. Just c heck back at the Project Junction Blog next week.

• 4 Mark // Aug 27, 2008 at 11:43 am

  Excellent. I look forward to reading your comments.