PM Beyond the Triple Constraint - Have you Checked Your People Skills Lately?

Why Another Project Management Blog?

As project managers we generally work hard and want to do a good job.  It seems to me that the most effective project managers are able to pull people together.  Their team members enjoy working with them and tend to deliver.  While often innate, such people skills may be learned.  As a project manager, the few minutes you spend focusing on the soft skills in this blog may provide the greatest return on your time investment all week.

My Credentials

I am a working Project Manager (PMP) with 20 years IT experience.  I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Decision Information Sciences and Statistics, and a Masters degree in Social Work.  (More information and resume here.)

My greatest satisfactions in the work arena center around creating highly functioning project teams, delivering projects that clients actually use, and leaving work environments happier and with higher morale than when I found them.  It would make me very happy to know that these posts guide you in doing some of the very same things.

Making Project Management Better - Goals

The goals of this blog are simple:

• Emphasize practical skills you can use immediately.
• Pull from research, common sense and the experience of seasoned PMs.
• Provide real-life examples of people related project management issues.
• Serve as an impartial friend or mentor if you have project management related questions.
• Make you a happier and more consistently successful Project Manager.

Audience

This blog is intended for working PMs at all experience levels.  While I do not profess to know all or even most of what there is to know in the areas of project management and people skills, I am committed to continuing to hone my skills and to share what I learn with others.  One day I’d like to be in the top echelon of project managers.  It would be a pleasure to bring all of you along with me.

Topics

The focus of this blog is on soft skills needed for excellent project management.  Some topics:

• Team Building
• Communication
• Meetings that Work
• Getting Things Done
• Developing Trust
• Helping Your People Succeed

What Subjects Are Most Helpful To You?

What most frustrates you in your current project management activities?  Let me know.

Feedback Sought

This blog can only be successful if it meets your needs.  To that end, your comments are actively sought.  Help me help you become a more highly effective PM.  Post comments, contact me by email or IM.  And please subscribe!  These are the only ways I know anyone is listening.

Look forward to our ongoing communication.

Thanks as always, and with kind regards,
 Alec

With this post, Making Work Life Better has become Making Project Management Better.

Tagged as: commitments, Communication, Developing Trust, Effectiveness, Email, Endings, experiences, goodness, happiness, Management, Manager, Meetings, Mentoring, People, project management issues, Success, successful project, Team Building, Teams

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• Phyrric Victory or When the Medicine is Worse Than the Disease - The Project Manager from Hell Series
• Do you dare make the 7-fold commitment to your life?