You may be wondering why anyone would plunk down $54 to purchase a dictionary of project management terms.  After all, you can google terms or use the online PM dictionaries available at PMHut, Project Auditors, or Visitask.

Your time is valuable!

There are too many books out there.

PM Bookshelf posts present you with a core of books that are worth your time to buy and read.

I wondered too when Christine Hohlbaum contacted me on behalf of ESI International and offered to send me a review copy of J. LeRoy Ward’s new third edition of the Dictionary of Project Management Terms.  Here’s what I found.

Impressions

• The book itself is lightweight and comfortable to hold.  It’s bound in what used to be called “imitation leather” and feels like it could withstand a lot of abuse.
• Good typeface choice.  Text is easy to read.
• The definitions are clear and concise.
• It begs to be picked up and browsed.

Why You Might Find This Useful

• Wonderful reference for the PMP exam.
• Could reduce the learning curve significantly for new project managers.
• Answers questions you might not know you have.
• Easy to carry with you.
• Gives you a reason to look away from your computer when Workrave reminds you to take a break.  (If you are not using Workrave, please contact me – we need to talk!)
• Impress project team members with your knowledge.
• Looks good on your desk.

Summary

If you are a new project manager, or think you might want to be a project manager, you would do well to purchase this book.   More experienced project managers will also find value.

In future you can look forward to other quick summaries of books which can improve your abilities as a project manager or IT leader.

Originally posted 2008-12-02 12:24:42.

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PM Bookshelf – Dictionary of Project Management Terms Third Edition by Ward is a post from: Alec Satin on People, Projects and Process

Your performance as a project manager is directly tied to your ability to make good decisions consistently.

This past week I was scrounging around my someday-maybe books to read pile when I came across Noel Tichy’s and Warren Bennis’s Judgment: How winning leaders make great calls.   A few wonderful hours browsing this 370-odd page tome yielded the following basic concepts.  They may be helpful to you as you think about your own decision making.

Leadership Judgment Process

Great decisions are more ongoing process than single action.  Tichy and Bennis divide decision making into a three stage process: (a) Preparation, (b) Call, and (c) Execution.   In using this process, the leaders they analyzed freely repeat or “redo” steps as needed.  What’s most important is not getting everything right immediately, but rather moving continually and inexorably in the right direction.

Judgment Areas

People, strategy and crisis are three of the main areas in which leaders need to consistently exercise judgment.  The book covers each of these areas extensively.

People

People decisions include building or rebuilding a team, and creating high level support.

Strategy

Strategy decisions continually change.
Strategy decisions require intellectual reasoning and intuition.
Strategy decisions are made by leaders themselves.

Crisis

Leaders take responsibility for handling crises.
In a crisis, it’s essential to remember the ultimate goal.
Poor judgment in people and/or strategy can lead to crisis.

During a PMO project I was fortunate to work in close proximity to a senior executive who was an excellent leader.  He spent a great deal of time formulating, planning, discussing and executing strategies.  I was impressed by how quickly he was able to modify or abandon a strategy when it became necessary.  He showed me the crucial importance of thinking before it’s time to act.

Handbook for Leadership Judgment

The book includes an 80 page handbook with exercises and guidelines.  Even if you don’t have time to read the whole book, this supplement would be useful if you seek to identify areas in which you’d like to improve your own decision making.

Recommendations Sought

If you have any articles or books which you have found helpful in the area of decision making, please let me know.  I have a keen personal interest!

Originally posted 2009-01-19 08:00:30.

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Judgment – How Leaders Make Decisions is a post from: Alec Satin on People, Projects and Process

Sid Savara has put together a list of The Three Best Personal Development Books. The choices are great and his explanations well worth reading.

Reading Sid’s list reminded me of one gathered by different friend.

John Harrell’s Recommended Reading List

My dear friend John Harrell was a prolific reader, inspirational teacher and coach. Over the years of our friendship we must have discussed over 300 different titles in the health, wellness and technology fields. Here are the books he loved best of all.

Says John: My top twenty-one books in no specific order, however the first 15 (actually 17 because of the trilogy) I would keep over any of the others. They are not only excellent books with great tools and inspirational, you can read them over and over and not get bored with them, at least I can! The others below are books that helped me in my growth, but keep for sentimental reasons or to recommend to others on their starts.

May you be inspired this season from the words of this truly generous and good hearted soul. (The descriptions in parentheses are taken from John’s correspondence.)

1. Living on Love by Klaus Joehle (His meditation for radiating love and sending could change the world.)
2. Love without End by Glenda Green (I am almost highlighting the whole book, it moves up into my top ten books, probably top five. And that is pretty good for someone who owns about 4,000 books. )
3. Discover the Power with You by Eric Butterworth (The affirmation and loving message of Jesus explained to develop your philosophy, and to apply it in life.)
4. The Center of the Wheel by Robert Hudson (Provocative fiction read with a lot of truth to be absorbed.)
5. Illusions by Richard Bach (Another provocative fiction read, one of my most favorite books, that opens to the your potential, your possibilities.)
6. Message of a Master by John McDonald (Another provocative fiction read, one of my most favorite books, that opens to the your potential, your possibilities.)
7. The Magus of Strovolos by Kyriacos Markides (entire trilogy)
8. Positive Imaging by Norman Vincent Peale (The concept of visualization in addition to vocal, mental, and written affirmation is powerful, as it evokes emotion.)
9. The Fruit of your Thoughts by John Roberts (on Peter Rosen, Magic Man of Mystic Mountain)
10. Jesus and Mastership by Morgan (The most interesting and enlightening account of the life of Jesus.)
11. The Secret of Shambala by James Redfield
12. Bridges to Heaven by Jonathan Robinson (How well-known seekers define and deepen their connection with God, excellent resource, how I learned the Archangel meditation.)
13. The Inner Core by Robert Marshall (His concepts of Power Affirmation to affect consciousness are a key part of this program, my life. This concept came from Eric Butterworth, but I got it here. )
14. Activation of the Sacred Seals by Virginia Ellen (Her concepts of imprinting prayer upon consciousness are a key part of this program, my life.)
15. Manifesting Your Destiny by Wayne Dyer (Wayne Dyer’s message of eliminating expectations, and recognizing that you react to situations based on what is inside you, from his book, Real Magic was a turning point in my dealing with relationships.)
16. Conversations with God by Neale Donald Walsch
17. For Once in Your Life by Chris Prentiss
18. The Superbeings by John Randolph Price (well any of his books, but I got my house using the techniques from this book. The concept I learned was affirmation/prayer with power and faith, through recognition of your connection with God.)
19. The Greatest Salesman in the World by Og Mandino (His love scroll is the basis for my love affirmation/prayer script, one of the most profound exercises I have experienced.)
20. The Monk who sold his Ferrari by Robin Sharma
21. Seven Spiritual Secrets of Success by Deepak Chopra
22. Power Through Constructive Thinking by Emmet Fox (His concept of affirmation, focus, and especially Love is the goal of this book. )
23. One Day my Soul just Opened up by Iyanla Vassant (Wonderful book, book structure is a natural template for spiritual awareness and growth, and was a valuable resource for me to both experience and use in this book.)
24. The Healing Light by Agnes Sanford (Her method of neutralizing the ego’s negative thoughts I feel is timeless. )
25. Life and Teachings of the Masters of the Far East (6 volume set) (One of the most provocative set of books I have ever read, it opens you to possibilities beyond your dreams.)
26. The Man who Tapped the Secrets of the Universe by Glenn Clark (The ultimate role model for a spiritual person who is also wealthy, brilliant, artist, scientist, ice skater and sculptor. A true contemporary renaissance man!)

(Image by jordigraells)

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The Very Best Personal Development Books Reading List is a post from: Alec Satin on People, Projects and Process