Project management involves handling several pieces of a puzzle. As a manager it is your job to make sure that there is a cohesiveness that results when these pieces come together. A lot of attention goes into making bigger projects work, but what about the smaller ones? You’d be surprised...

Performance problems are not easy to deal with. It helps, though, if you have a plan in place to get a handle on the issues that affect employees that you supervise. Here are six powerful tips that can help you do a better job of tackling this aspect of your job. The Objective The objective of addressing...

Let’s plan your next project. The team has come up with a vision and objectives for the project. Each person can virtually “see” what the desired outcome will be. Now it’s time to make that happen. Running a project begins with planning well for it. It’s time to choose manageable tasks and...

Now that the project plan is complete, it’s time to get to work. Each team member has their marching orders to get the ball rolling. So, what is the project manager to do? This is where you monitor the team, stay in contact with the sponsor and communicate with the client (or high-level decision makers). What...

Now that we know about the roles of a project manager, it’s time to set up the major phases of any project. There are four basic stages and different agendas to be accomplished within each. If you have been called to manage a project, there are four stages that you need to know: Define the project Plan...

As a small business owner, you have a lot on your plate. You may even be handling every job there is to do concerning your product or service. A project manager could be just the person to help you elevate your business to the next level. Reaching the Next Level Every business owner wants to grow. That...

Mastering effective communication is a two-way street. But by paying attention to our own side of any conversation in the office we should be able to get our desired outcome. One effective communication recipe you can follow is: Purpose + Behavior + Feelings + Needs, followed by Prompting State your...

Multitasking is a dangerous myth in the modern workplace. It is mentioned as a praiseworthy attribute in our employees, but there are consequences to them constantly dividing their attention as they work through their to-do list each day. When we multitask, our brain is not really doing a range of things...

Create Processes and Systems and Map Them – Identify all of the tasks you perform on a monthly basis. These include lead generation, lead conversion, behind the scenes administrative operations, and the processes and steps your customer takes. Map the process by outlining each step. What is required...

Delegating is a crucial part of being successful. As your business grows and you take on more and bigger projects, you simply won’t have the time or energy to manage all of the responsibilities while continuing to produce high quality work. Sharing the responsibility allows you to be more productive...