Project work success requires awareness.Noticing what is around us.Seeing what is happening and what is not happening.Hearing the spoken and the unspoken.Observing reactions and non-reactions.We must act. We will not act on what we don’t notice.Practice noticing. Practice listening. Practice seeing. Practice observing.Notice and act.
Posts – Old and New
Hierarchy and Project Success
As modern management progressed, it progressed as a command-and-control structure. Probably inherited from the military. The boss said what to do and when to do it and even how to do it. The worker complied with what the boss said – or likely had to find another job. That is still likely the best idea…
Planning and Ready-Fire-Aim
In business these days, there’s an increased emphasis on the need to act before you have everything perfected. That’s true in a fast-paced world of business, where the first one to “get it out there” may be the winner. Or, as Seth Godin now refers to it, they need to “ship“. Ready-Fire-Aim (RFA) is a…
Vocation Quote
“There are many types and kinds of vocation, but the core of the experience is always the same: the soul is awakened by it, transformed or exalted, so that instead of dreams and presentiments from within a summons comes from without. A portion of reality presents itself and makes its claim.” Hesse, HermanThe Glass Bead…
Staying on Schedule for the Long Term
Weather predictions I’m not sure what the weather will be in 10 days. I can check the forecast online, but it will only be a forecast. Weather predictors have gotten better, with better information and technology, but they still can’t avoid the unforeseen events that can affect the weather – a low pressure cell stalls…
Will IPD and ConsensusDOCS Change Bad Behavior?
A recent discussion on LinkedIn centered on the tendency of Clients (Owners) and General Contractors to hold payments for completed work for as long as they can. This is especially hurtful for smaller companies. Will the use of new forms of agreement such as the Integrated Project Delivery Agreements by the AIA and ConsensusDOCS change…
First Ask Why
An interesting question. Of the three – Why, What, or How – which matters most? What we do or what our Project will do is important. But, there are many more people or companies who can do the What. How is more critical. Not everyone on every Project will accomplish things in the same way….
"Chunking" in a Complex Project
With the many possible iterations of interlinked activities in a complex Project (okay, I used that wording to make the Project sound more complex), how can we keep up with all of it? How can we, as Project leaders, both lead and “manage” our Project to success when it involves so many complications? Choose a…
What is a Complex Project?
We have different concepts of complexity. For someone who says “I’m not good with math!”, finding the area of a simple, right triangle is complex. Sometimes complexity is about viewpoint (“I’m not good with math!”). Sometimes complexity is about your personal stress level (what causes you to experience stress). So what is Project complexity? A…
Wind Power – Even Those Who Are For It Are Against It
To hear the general press these days, it seems everyone who is anyone is in favor of alternative energy generation. Even many of the traditional utilities are developing alternative energy sources and forming divisions or separate companies to focus on it. But, even when “everyone is pro alternative energy”, some are still against it when…