Career development and project management tips for project managers
Project Manager Salary United States: Guide, Trend and Analysis Are you being paid what you are worth? In this guide, I will dive into project manager salary United States numbers published by the Project Management Institute (PMI), provide some analysis and trend information. PMI categorizes Project Manager jobs into three levels. To find out which … Read more
Project Manager Salary Canada: Guide, Trend and Analysis Are you being paid what you are worth? In this guide, I will dive into the Project Manager Salary Canada numbers published by the Project Management Institute (PMI), provide some analysis and trend information. PMI categorizes Project Manager jobs into three levels. To find out which level … Read more
All I need is a good job then a better job. Why bother with career planning? Isn’t it just a waste of time given that the world is volatile, uncertain, and always changing? The simple answer is without a goal, your career could meander along and opportunities could pass you by. Having a career goal … Read more
It was November. I was pulled into a meeting with twenty or so managers and directors. They were stuck. A last-minute project was needed to meet a regulatory deadline by the end of the year. Resources were already stretched thin and committed to top priority enterprise projects. The lead department needed the support of all … Read more
It’s 2020 and the world is changing. The post COVID19 world is going to be different from the pre-COVID world. The only question is, “how different?” With this volatile change, one thing is certain: the project management skills that got you here are not going to be enough for the future. Entire economies have been … Read more
In its Pulse of the Profession 2023, PMI highlights 4 power skills that help project professionals fulfill organizational objectives: communication, problem-solving, collaborative leadership, and strategic thinking. Based on my coaching practice, I would like to highlight one fundamental power skill that will help you keep your job and demonstrate personal leadership: self-awareness. Here’s why. Have … Read more
When the pandemic and the government was doling out cash, we were happy for the support. But the additional money circulating in the economy created demand at the same time when supply chains were disrupted. More demand and less supply led to inflation. In response, the Bank of Canada started raising interest rates in March … Read more
As the project manager, you are the link to all stakeholders and project team members. If you used to work in the same physical office, with an open office layout and co-located teams, you benefited from high bandwidth communications. Not just you, but the entire team talked to each other, brainstormed and solved problems much … Read more
Last week, two friends were invited to a consultation but it turned out that the decision had already been made by the top person. The consultation was only for show. After having volunteered with this organization for over a decade, they will start to withdraw and eventually end their association. Similar “consultative” meetings occur in … Read more
A friend who’s an architect once joked, “My clients want a design that is good, fast, and affordable. I tell them to pick any two. If the design is good and fast, the price will be high. Something good and affordable will take more time. And if you want it fast and cheap, then it … Read more
The year is 2000. In a daring move, General Motors decides to revitalize its brand with a concept vehicle. Initial market response to the bold new look of the Pontiac Aztec was very positive. It was the “Most Appealing Entry Sport Utility Vehicle” according to JD Powers. Customers gave the Aztec among the highest satisfaction … Read more
Have you ever been on a project where everything seems to be going well until a month before the deadline when suddenly, without any warning signs, its headed for failure? Failure comes in many shapes and sizes. The deadline could be missed, quality may be subpar, or the budget exceeded. The project status flips from … Read more
Servant leaders can be seen at all levels of an organization. Here’s an example of servant leadership from the highest level. This event is seared into my memory for life! It was after lunch at an all-day leadership meeting. We were chatting away at our table, oblivious to the dishes and leftovers. The CEO walked … Read more
Some of us are returning to work in the office, some continue to work from home, and others are permanently remote. Welcome to the world of hybrid meetings! During the peak of the pandemic, everyone worked from home and we got used to 100% virtual meetings. That was easy, ahem, after: The benefits of 100% … Read more
Early on in my career, my project was sabotaged. I will spare you the details but, in the end, after a setback and delay, the project was completed, and it was profitable. Looking back after decades, I find it interesting how senior professionals and even management can sometimes scuttle a project due to self-interest or … Read more