I am a big fan of the hit TV show Heroes.  Last season, there was a theme and slogan, “save the cheerleader, save the world”. Hayden Panettiere plays Claire Bennet, a high school cheerleader who learns she has ‘powers’; essentially she can heal herself.  This invincibility allows her to be exposed to fatal situations and remain alive.  Last season, this character became the focal point of a web of characters and complicated paths that determined the fate of mankind.  Now, I know this is Hollywood at its best, but the current economic events seem as if they are coming from the same wicked, psycho-thriller material that only Hollywood’s brightest can conjure up.

Save the Project Management Scheduler, save the world!

If you haven’t figured it out by now, I am a strong advocate of the concepts of scheduling.  In simplest terms, I believe all things are boiled down to:

• Activity (tasks) that need to be completed
• Resources (enablers) to complete the activity

Armed with this information, problems can be solved, products can be developed, and yes, even companies and economies can ‘heal’.

I live in the Detroit area, Motor City!  Trust me, there are casualties abound!  The heads of the Automotive Big 3 were recently grilled by the US Congress, and there was definitely a theme, being saved!  The grey area is who’s doing the saving?  The companies themselves (self healing) or us – the Taxpayers?  I also heard extended discussions about having a ‘plan’.  Again, the word and interpretation of ‘plan’ and ‘planning’ is very wide and creative, indeed.  However, I have learned one thing from my efforts to be a productive Project Management Practitioner, and that is always have an answer to the following questions:

• What is the first thing you would do if…
  • You got (big) money?
  • You invite people over?
  • You acquire that good or service?
• Who/what is going to be the resource?

Save the Project Management Scheduler, save the world!

The first step is always answering those two questions.  Sure, we need vision, strategic goals and objectives, and so on.  When the dust settles, the complicated web boils down to simple scheduling as the first step  – - – the way forward.

I may be a bit of a simpleton here, but let me and some of my Project Management Scheduling colleagues sit with those three leaders of the US Auto companies.  Armed with Project Scheduling tools, we will absolutely uncover what and how the path to closure will be done.

Save the Project Management Scheduler, save the world!

Posted By: Tim Cermak

The top soft skill for a Project Manager has to be communication. Without efficient communication, your project will suffer. Your relationship with your team, stakeholders and sponsors is critical to the project’s success. If poor communication tarnishes these relationships, you are putting your project at risk for success.

Have you ever wondered why the same statement resonates differently between two people? One tool that may help to understand these differences is being able to identify personality preference types.

One approach is based on a personality typology developed by Carl Jung. He identified three aspects of one’s personality. This typology was further developed into four aspects by Isabel Myers-Briggs. These personality profiles are:

Of course no type of categorization is 100% one way or the other all the time. But by being aware of the differences of how people obtain information, and process information, communication can be tailored to be more effective. And by observing people and how they communicate, you can begin to identify where they may fall within these preferences.  For example, if you notice someone speaking with more concrete facts, they probably have a preference for Sensing and you know that they will understand things better if they are presented in a linear and detailed fashion. If someone is quiet and contemplative, they most likely have a preference for being Introverted and you can adjust and not expect a quick reaction as they will need some time to think about what you said and process internally.

The flip side of observing the possible preferences of others is that you must be aware of your own communication style and preferences. And as a Project Manager, you must develop the skills necessary to modify your communication style to bring out the best in your team and ensure success…. on a team level and for the entire project.

If you are interested in seeing where you may score along these personality preferences, you can take a free online test at: www.humanmetrics.com and choose the Jung Typology Test. It will be very enlightening!

Posted By: Lynn Jesus-Olhausen