Auditing a Closed Project: Questions That Address 47 Processes
Below are some of the questions I've asked other project managers in regards to their closed projects:
- What were the biggest headaches with the project you supported?
- If you could do it again, what aspects would you change?
- How did you deal with team members that stopped communicating?
- How much did planning help with the project?
- What last minute surprises occurred that threw you off guard?
- What were some great outcomes of the project?
People Will Judge Your Profile, Presentation, and Packaging
Coined by Cheskin, he recognized that "when people give an assessment of something they might buy in a supermarket or a department store, without realizing it, they transfer sensations or impressions that they have about the packaging of the product to the product itself...Cheskin believed that most of us don't make a distinction - on an unconscious level - between the package and the product. The product is the package and the product combined (Gladwell, p. 160)."
So what?
Lessons Learned from Project Closeouts
David Kassel states in his textbook, Managing Public Sector Projects, “…the project close-out period can be one of stress and anxiety as both the project management team and the contractor sprint to the finish line…” (2010, pg. 199)
I used to have a hard time with the end of projects because:
- The execution phase sucked out all of my energy
- I find it hard to let go of something beautiful I helped create
- Organizations I worked for had no formal close-out processes, so it was considered additional work
- I've built such strong relationships with my team members
Understanding Agile User Stories
A Matrix for Time Management
Raise Your Hand If You're A 20-Something & Are Scared Of All The Potential You Hold.
Dreams give us a direction but they stay in our heads.
We need to change dreams into visions that have actionable steps behind them. A person can dream for days but nothing will get done until you take the first step.
Need some help? Here is a snippet of an article that I read this morning that got me motivated:
2) Use "Minimum Viable Effort"
Want to floss more often? Okay, just floss one tooth. Sound silly? That’s fine. Just like your mom told you: focus on baby steps
When Multitasking Is Effective
The Benefits of Doodling
Did you know that doodlers and fidgeters recall 29% more information (especially DULL information) in comparison to those who keep their hands idle?
My Most Productive Day Ever in 3 Easy Steps
Have you ever had a day where you wanted to get stuff done but the odds were against you? Maybe a day binge-watching shows and movies on Netflix? Or possibly, being scatter-brained and working on 7-10 things interchangeably in a day? Hopefully the steps below will help streamline your work practice for a better work day!