Project management audio blog featuring monthly interviews with the most seasoned and recognized practitioners, thought leaders, project managers, and executives on industry-specific business problems to help C-level executives achieve success.
As project managers, we are continually making presentations – whether it's informally at internal team meetings or formally to steering committees, project sponsors, or to external stakeholders or clients. Yet many project managers don’t include presentation skills training in their annual sign-up letters or professional development plans.
Here’s 10 tips to help project managers make more effective presentations.
Know your audience.
Words matter.
Provide a roadmap.
Time management.
Weave in examples whenever possible.
Make it interactive.
The slides are not the presentation.
Speak with conviction.
Socialize your presentation with key stakeholders in advance.
Be prepared for questions.
Well I hope you enjoyed these tips and would encourage you to share your own by posting comments on our website or emailing them to pmwarstories@gmail.com.
In this episode, I share three principles that have helped me throughout my career.
Let’s face it, as project managers time, scope, and budget are often much easier to manage than the people associated with our projects. How effective your people skills are, can impact the fluidity and success of a project. So here’s 3 principles to keep in mind during your next project.
I hope you enjoyed these principles and encourage you to share your own principles by posting comments below or emailing them to pmwarstories(at)gmail(dot)com.
Music Notes 1. The opening of the show – “Torn Jeans” 2. The closing of the show – “Lazy Day”
It is not very difficult to convince project managers of the value they bring to the table. The reality is project managers are always a piece of a bigger picture within the organizations they represent. Although many understand the the value of project management, there are equally as many within the organization that still need convincing of the role project management plays in meeting corporate objectives. In this regard, project management offices (PMOs) all face a similar predicament from their initial establishment defining their role within the organizations they serve to reaching full maturity by securing complete stakeholder buy-in and becoming true drivers of their company's success.
At the end of the day, like any other department within an organization, the PMO will be judged on its performance. For PMOs this means getting the job done in a timely fashion within budget and according to specifications, while optimizing the available resources at hand. Consequently each project success linked to the PMO will lead to perceived value and stakeholder buy-in. In other words, a PMOs maturity is based on its history of success.
In this episode, we will examine teammates, maturity, and success in the project office.
Our show is divided into 2 segments.
In Part 1, we will be talking to industry insider, Alison Mills Long, who has over 18 years of experience in project management in the financial services industry. She is a founding member of the PMI Columbus, GA Chapter, and served as vice president of Communications & Publicity as well as Chapter President. She is also an instructor for Continuing Education and The Cunningham Center for Leadership Development at Columbus State University in Columbus, GA.
Alison is currently vice president and BankCard Services Project Office Manager for a leading financial services company. In her current position, Alison's responsibilities include the overseeing new bankcard product launches, advancing soft skills, and managing compliance projects, as well as acquisition activities including portfolio conversions. Today she will share her insights and experiences in defining the role of the project management office, assessing organizational maturity and team skills, and measuring success.
In part 2, we go roaming with the Salty Dogg to examine March Madness and its effect on decision making.
Music Notes
1. The opening of the episode – “Catwalk” 2. Interview with Alison Mills-Long – “Alliance” 3. Roaming with the Salty Dogg – “Collins Avenue” 4. The closing of the episode – “East Ender”
As Project Managers and PMO leaders, we are here to help. Sometimes, however, the people we are providing services to do not see it as help. Let's face it. They are not always nice or cooperative. It's a battle sometimes. And it can even be a battle with your own self.
Project managers must work around resistant individuals. When faced with negative tactics or passive aggressive behavior, see it for what it is. More importantly, we must respond in healthy and creative ways. It is never a good idea to back down, but it is equally important not to retaliate, no matter how tempting.
In this episode we will be examining the business side of creating a PMO from scratch at a large credit card company and how an educational media company, used communications software to fuel its growth and connect world class experts with people who want to improve their knowledge and abilities.
This show is divided into 2 segments:
In part 1, we will be talking to industry insider, Alison Mills Long who has over 17 years of project management experience with the last 6 years on the business side bringing up a PMO from scratch at a large credit card company. She will share her insights and war stories regarding implementing change and structure as well the rewarding experiences in using soft skills to get the job done (see Alison's recommended reading list below).
In part 2, we will be talking to Rafe Furst, CTO of Expert Insight in our Technology Corner segment. Rafe is a successful entrepreneur and business leader, having formed Pick'em Sports in 1996 and later selling it to a public company in 1999. He has done cutting-edge research in Automated Software Development and is an experienced web developer and marketer. Rafe is responsible for online and IT strategy and development at Expert Insight.
We hope you enjoy the show and encourage you to send your questions, issues, and war stories.
