Project Hero Blog - Weekly Best Practices and Tips

Conflict resolution is a skill that transcends roles. So regardless of the type of team I am managing, my response would be the same.

Tip #1: Set the rules and boundaries.  As a leader, you define the standards for conduct and enforce them. Part of your resource plan should also include time for team building.

First, it is important to establish the team as a safe space where open and transparen...

Stress, burnout, and physical exhaustion impact project managers at one time or another. You need to believe that you can get a handle on what stresses you, and diffuse this stress in ways that maintain your physical and emotional health.  Pressure may be a part of life, but it is essential to find ways to de-stress and not let it get the best of you.

Stress comes from our habits or our thoughts ...

Julia couldn't be more frustrated! There were less than three months to finish the project, and yet everything was going wrong. And to top it all, the budget to complete the work was nearly exhausted.

Julia's problem boils down to ineffective project management. She may have failed to complete the steps necessary to prepare for project success.  She may have also failed to create a proper plan fo...

Expectancy theory tells us that people are motivated to choose their actions by examining the result and expected outcomes of each behavior. In other words, people will gravitate toward the results they perceive as most desirable and use rational thinking in decision-making.  Use these tips to use expectancy theory to the advantage of your project:

1. Know the wants and desires of the team to deve
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Project managers need to be able to calmly and professionally deliver bad news, when it happens, ranging from missed budgets and deadlines to team layoffs. Here are five tips for improving the delivery of bad news.

1. Don't surprise, delay, or hide it. Deliver the news promptly. Make an appointment and set the agenda for a face-to-face meeting, if at all possible.
2. Be prepared. Don't wing it or de
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As a leader, you will need to manage by influence and motivate the team without full authority. Here are five tips to effectively motivate your teams:

1. Be a good role model. Set the example you want the team to follow.
2. Set smaller, shorter period goals. While having bigger goals is good, to drive day-to-day performance, set smaller, easier to reach goals over short periods such as days, weeks,
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The execution phase of a project, while not immune to issues, can be as effortless as possible if you follow these principles:

1. Do the right amount of planning: too little and things "fall through the cracks", too much planning risks "analysis paralysis".
2. Get the right team: people that want to do the work, have the skills and have a supportive network.
3. Exercise key soft skills: delegation, fo
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Projects can be stressful for all concerned, especially around holidays. Here are 5 tips for project leaders to reduce stress for everyone involved:

1. Clarity is the #1 stress reducer. Be sure everyone knows the vision for the outcomes, the plan, and their roles and responsibilities at all times.
2. Have high expectations, but don't expect perfection. Acknowledge progress and accomplishment.
3. Perfo
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Does the team put together the perfect plan with your facilitation? Even so, project execution is more than just checking progress and writing status reports. Here is where your leadership is most needed. These are some items for a project execution checklist to ensure you are leading:

• Manage team conflict. Stop negative conflict quickly and encourage collaboration for positive conflict (i.e. d
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These six tips will help you achieve success with teams and begin to form high performing teams:

1. Know the team. Check-in frequently with everyone and schedule time for 1:1 meetings to learn more about each team member.
2. Provide clarity. Teams work best when there is clarity of purpose, plan, and responsibilities. Let them know how they will be measured.
3. Give acknowledgment, recognition, and pr
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