http://pm411.org project management internet radio show, templates, and webtools Mon, 02 Jan 2012 21:37:46 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 The pm411.org Project Management Podcast is dedicated to help you at your job as a Project Manager or Program Manager, regardless if you have years of experience, or if you are just starting on your journey in Project Management. pm411.org is a place where you can come to find the latest in PM tools, PM Templates, PM tips, and PMI (PMBOK) methodologies that have been found to help others. It is a place where discussions can be had with project managers from around the globe and in every industry where project management permeates in our Project Management discussion forums. It is a place where you can find the best Project Management links to other sites dedicated to our wonderful profession. Ron Holohan, MBA PMP no Ron Holohan, MBA PMP show@pm411.org show@pm411.org (Ron Holohan, MBA PMP) 2007-2012 Ron Holohan Project management internet radio show, discussion forum, methodology, templates, and webtools project, management, pm, prepcast, management, manager, pmi, pmp, team, management, schedule, budget http://pm411.org/wp-content/uploads/pm411logo_itunes.jpg http://pm411.org/category/pm-resources/pm-books/ http://pm411.org/2012/01/02/podcast-episode-081-5-steps-to-create-a-successful-pmo/ http://pm411.org/2012/01/02/podcast-episode-081-5-steps-to-create-a-successful-pmo/#comments Mon, 02 Jan 2012 20:20:53 +0000 Ron Holohan, MBA PMP http://pm411.org/?p=2600 http://pm411.org/2012/01/02/podcast-episode-081-5-steps-to-create-a-successful-pmo/feed/ 14 best practices,how to create a pmo,pm411,pmo,process,project management,project management office,ron holohan Today I give you 5 steps to help you create a successful Project Management Office in your organization. Today I give you 5 steps to help you create a successful Project Management Office in your organization. Ron Holohan, MBA PMP no 12:18 http://pm411.org/2011/08/25/podcast-episode-077-the-dirty-little-secret-of-business/ http://pm411.org/2011/08/25/podcast-episode-077-the-dirty-little-secret-of-business/#comments Fri, 26 Aug 2011 02:07:02 +0000 Ron Holohan, MBA PMP http://pm411.org/?p=2500 http://pm411.org/2011/08/25/podcast-episode-077-the-dirty-little-secret-of-business/feed/ 2 andy kaufman,behaviors,Communication,david allen,devora zack,ferrazzi,hillson,i-leadonline,networking,people and projects podcast,pm groups,pmi Recently I spoke with author, speaker, and executive coach Andy Kaufman. What I was interested in getting from Andy was what is behind what Andy calls “The Dirty Little Secret of Business” – you know, Recently I spoke with author, speaker, and executive coach Andy Kaufman. What I was interested in getting from Andy was what is behind what Andy calls “The Dirty Little Secret of Business” – you know, that one thing that can really make you or break you in your career as a project manager. Ron Holohan, MBA PMP no 41:24 http://pm411.org/2011/06/12/eliyahu-goldratt-march-31-1948-june-11-2011/ http://pm411.org/2011/06/12/eliyahu-goldratt-march-31-1948-june-11-2011/#comments Sun, 12 Jun 2011 20:38:32 +0000 Ron Holohan, MBA PMP http://pm411.org/?p=2398 http://pm411.org/2011/06/12/eliyahu-goldratt-march-31-1948-june-11-2011/feed/ 10 http://pm411.org/2011/01/30/podcast-episode-068-the-schedule-killers-presentation-part-1/ http://pm411.org/2011/01/30/podcast-episode-068-the-schedule-killers-presentation-part-1/#comments Mon, 31 Jan 2011 01:46:23 +0000 Ron Holohan, MBA PMP http://pm411.org/?p=1825 http://pm411.org/2011/01/30/podcast-episode-068-the-schedule-killers-presentation-part-1/feed/ 5 bad multitasking,delay,multitasking,parkinson's law,PM Video,presentation,ron holohan,schedule killers,student syndrome This is the introduction of a video presentation I gave on The Schedule Killers last summer. The other parts will be presented in the next few episodes. This is the introduction of a video presentation I gave on The Schedule Killers last summer. The other parts will be presented in the next few episodes. Ron Holohan, MBA PMP no http://pm411.org/2011/01/14/podcast-episode-067-stop-playing-games/ http://pm411.org/2011/01/14/podcast-episode-067-stop-playing-games/#comments Sat, 15 Jan 2011 05:23:39 +0000 Ron Holohan, MBA PMP http://pm411.org/?p=1786 http://pm411.org/2011/01/14/podcast-episode-067-stop-playing-games/feed/ 6 Do you ever get tired of playing games? - No. I’m not talking about Scrabble or poker or even Dungeons and Dragons Online in which incidentally, I am a current fourth level paladin. No, rather I’m speaking about the games that we get to play every... Do you ever get tired of playing games? No. I’m not talking about Scrabble or poker or even Dungeons and Dragons Online in which incidentally, I am a current fourth level paladin. No, rather I’m speaking about the games that we get to play every day as project managers. What games you ask? Oh, you know the ones like “The Pricing Game,” “Guess the Truth,” and “Grapevine.” Well, lucky for us, Rick Morris, PMP, provides some strategies on how to win at these games. Rick Morris is the best-selling author of the book Stop Playing Games: A Project Manager’s Guide to Successfully Navigating Organizational Politics. This book, from the author of Project Management That Works and The Everything Project Management Book, dives deep into topics of gaining buy-in from upper management, accurately estimating timing and cost, controlling project communications, managing within a corporate culture, taking care of your team, and more. The Inspiration Behind the Book Frustration was one of the factors that inspired Rick to write Stop Playing Games. Frustration often occurs when project managers are ask to try to beat impossible deadlines with budgets and dates that they didn’t help set and without the authority to be successful.  Then, often we get to take the blame for when it all goes wrong! Luckily, Rick has worked with a lot of executives, both as a consultant and as a project manager, and has been able to help many see that their team leaders actually share the same goals that they have. In the end, we’re all people and we all want to be successful. By applying tips from Rick’s book, project managers can help their executives look so much better than they do today. In the long run, together we can stop playing these games and just have an honest relationship and become successful together. So, who's ready for a hug? The Current Status of Project Management Rick contends that the current status of project management is that a lot of people want a “quick fix” to improve corporate efficiency and they think that Project Management might be able to provide that, but they don’t want to put in the needed work to make the process changes to truly get the benefit of doing it the right way. One of the reasons we try to play “games” is because, just like when "Six Sigma" was new to organizations ten years ago, Project Management is new to a lot of organizations today. If you remember when Six Sigma became so prevalent, you had stories of Motorola and GE getting all these gains and successes from implementing Six Sigma. They had these results that suggested that if you brought a certified "Master Black Belt" in, your organization would suddenly become tremendously more efficient overnight. Although organizations are starting to recognize that Project Management does bring dividends, they still don’t know exactly how to help project managers do their jobs succesfully. What’s happening is they think “Oh, we just established a Project Managemetn Office (PMO), now we’re finally going to have better project predictability.” Unfortunately, the problem is that organizations don’t want to put in the effort to really change any of their processes. Perhaps they read some journal article that said, “Hey, if you hire a project manager, you can get results.” So, they go and hire a PMP. But they don't provide the time or budget to effectively plan and execute the project. Soon the top floor wants to know “Where are these results we were promised?” As a result, in many cases project managers simply end up being big paper pushers and additional money gets spent to bring in consultants to figure out that the organization's processes and expectations never got changed to allow projects to come in under budget, under schedule, and within scope. When I grow up, I want to be a Project Manager Most of us really didn’t plan to become a project manager. Ron Holohan, MBA PMP no 26:05 http://pm411.org/2010/10/12/podcast-episode-064-9-steps-to-work-less-and-do-more/ http://pm411.org/2010/10/12/podcast-episode-064-9-steps-to-work-less-and-do-more/#comments Wed, 13 Oct 2010 03:18:46 +0000 Ron Holohan, MBA PMP http://pm411.org/?p=1714 http://pm411.org/2010/10/12/podcast-episode-064-9-steps-to-work-less-and-do-more/feed/ 5 do more,get-it-done,guy,podcast,stever robbins,work less I recently talked with Stever Robbins of the Get-It-Done Guy Podcast about his book Nine Steps to Work Less and Do More. Stever is a successful entrepreneur who loves productivity in the service of personal fulfillment. A veteran of nine startups, I recently talked with Stever Robbins of the Get-It-Done Guy Podcast about his book Nine Steps to Work Less and Do More. Stever is a successful entrepreneur who loves productivity in the service of personal fulfillment. A veteran of nine startups, including FTP Software, Intuit, and HEAR Music, Stever is a graduate of Harvard Business School and MIT. Ron Holohan, MBA PMP no 36:33 http://pm411.org/2010/09/26/podcast-episode-063-the-lazy-project-manager/ http://pm411.org/2010/09/26/podcast-episode-063-the-lazy-project-manager/#comments Sun, 26 Sep 2010 21:31:53 +0000 Ron Holohan, MBA PMP http://pm411.org/?p=1703 http://pm411.org/2010/09/26/podcast-episode-063-the-lazy-project-manager/feed/ 8 80/20 rule,pareto,peter taylor,productively lazy,the lazy project manager Recently I spoke with Peter Taylor about his book The Lazy Project Manager and what it means to be Productively Lazy. Recently I spoke with Peter Taylor about his book The Lazy Project Manager and what it means to be Productively Lazy. Ron Holohan, MBA PMP no 17:26 http://pm411.org/2010/05/31/podcast-episode-060-rats-snakes-and-complex-projects-with-geoff-crane/ http://pm411.org/2010/05/31/podcast-episode-060-rats-snakes-and-complex-projects-with-geoff-crane/#comments Tue, 01 Jun 2010 02:57:28 +0000 Ron Holohan, MBA PMP http://pm411.org/?p=1444 http://pm411.org/2010/05/31/podcast-episode-060-rats-snakes-and-complex-projects-with-geoff-crane/feed/ 3 complex projects,Geoff Crane,papercut,papercut edge,papercut pm,planning,Risk Management,scope I once described Geoff Crane's Papercut Edge blog like this: "Imagine if Project Management rode the scary rollercoaster and then threw up... That's what Geoff Crane's blog is like." And Geoff just so happens to also an expert on complex projects. I once described Geoff Crane's Papercut Edge blog like this: "Imagine if Project Management rode the scary rollercoaster and then threw up... That's what Geoff Crane's blog is like." And Geoff just so happens to also an expert on complex projects. Especially those projects where the exterminator needs to be called in. And lucky for us, Geoff is willing to share some of his tips on managing complex projects. Ron Holohan, MBA PMP no 23:44 http://pm411.org/2010/04/11/podcast-episode-058-virtual-team-tips-with-the-cranky-middle-manager/ http://pm411.org/2010/04/11/podcast-episode-058-virtual-team-tips-with-the-cranky-middle-manager/#comments Mon, 12 Apr 2010 01:51:45 +0000 Ron Holohan, MBA PMP http://pm411.org/?p=1277 http://pm411.org/2010/04/11/podcast-episode-058-virtual-team-tips-with-the-cranky-middle-manager/feed/ 21 Communication,cranky middle manager show,monitoring and controlling,pm software,PM Video,remote team,Teams,virtual team,wayne turmel Recently I spoke with the very smart, funny, and dare I say, Cranky, Wayne Turmel about virtual teams. Wayne Turmel is the president of Greatwebmeetings.com, as well as the host of one of the world's most successful business podcasts, Recently I spoke with the very smart, funny, and dare I say, Cranky, Wayne Turmel about virtual teams. Wayne Turmel is the president of Greatwebmeetings.com, as well as the host of one of the world's most successful business podcasts, The Cranky Middle Manager Show. The BBC, ABC and BusinessWeek Online have called Cranky Middle Manager one of the best HR blogs out there. And Wayne's book 6 Weeks to a Great Webinar: Generate Leads and Tell Your Story to the World is the leading web presentation book on Amazon.com. Wayne is also a contributor to BNET. Ron Holohan, MBA PMP no 36:23 http://pm411.org/2010/03/28/podcast-episode-057-tom-peters-speaks-out-about-toyota-recalls/ http://pm411.org/2010/03/28/podcast-episode-057-tom-peters-speaks-out-about-toyota-recalls/#comments Mon, 29 Mar 2010 02:21:41 +0000 Ron Holohan, MBA PMP http://pm411.org/?p=1117 http://pm411.org/2010/03/28/podcast-episode-057-tom-peters-speaks-out-about-toyota-recalls/feed/ 5 al dunlap,apple,authors,auto manufacturers,chevrolet,Chrysler,Ford,GM,google,Honda,ibm,in search of excellence I was recently joined by best selling author and Management guru Tom Peters to discuss his perspective on the Toyota recalls. Tom and I also talked about where other major companies such as Dell, Starbucks, Nike, Apple, Google, GM, IBM, I was recently joined by best selling author and Management guru Tom Peters to discuss his perspective on the Toyota recalls. Tom and I also talked about where other major companies such as Dell, Starbucks, Nike, Apple, Google, GM, IBM, Johnson & Johnson, and Honda fall on that elusive spectra known as "Excellence". By the way, if somehow you have not heard of Tom Peters: Simply put, Tom Peters is the last of the still living and truly great 20th Century management thought leaders and, incidentally, is more relevant in today's business environment than ever before. Ron Holohan, MBA PMP no 31:36 http://pm411.org/2010/03/07/podcast-episode-055-the-complete-pmo-part-2-of-2/ http://pm411.org/2010/03/07/podcast-episode-055-the-complete-pmo-part-2-of-2/#comments Sun, 07 Mar 2010 21:03:34 +0000 Ron Holohan, MBA PMP http://pm411.org/?p=1026 http://pm411.org/2010/03/07/podcast-episode-055-the-complete-pmo-part-2-of-2/feed/ 1 gerard hill,pmo,project management office,the complete pmo,the complete project management office handbook In this episode, I continue my discussion on the Project Management Office with one of the world’s leading experts on PMOs, Mr. Gerard Hill, PMP.  If you have not listened to Part 1 of our discussion, you will definitely want to go back and listen t... In this episode, I continue my discussion on the Project Management Office with one of the world’s leading experts on PMOs, Mr. Gerard Hill, PMP.  If you have not listened to Part 1 of our discussion, you will definitely want to go back and listen t... Ron Holohan, MBA PMP no 31:01 http://pm411.org/2010/02/21/podcast-episode-054-the-complete-pmo/ http://pm411.org/2010/02/21/podcast-episode-054-the-complete-pmo/#comments Mon, 22 Feb 2010 03:42:51 +0000 Ron Holohan, MBA PMP http://pm411.org/?p=962 http://pm411.org/2010/02/21/podcast-episode-054-the-complete-pmo/feed/ 6 gerard hill,pmo,project management office,the complete pmo,the complete project management office handbook Because the Project Management Office is such an important topic, today we are digging deeper into what a PMO is with one of the world’s leading experts in PMOs, Mr. Gerard Hill, PMP. - Gerard "Jerry" Hill is an internationally-recognized consultant, Because the Project Management Office is such an important topic, today we are digging deeper into what a PMO is with one of the world’s leading experts in PMOs, Mr. Gerard Hill, PMP. Gerard "Jerry" Hill is an internationally-recognized consultant, author and speaker with professional expertise in the discipline of project management.  He brings emerging project management concepts and practices to bear for consideration by individuals and organizations; and he applies a practical approach to implementing business solutions in the project management environment.  Mr. Hill has conceived and constructed several project management methodologies and PMO solutions that have been deployed in organizations around the globe. His recent publications include: The Complete Project Management Office Handbook (Auerbach Publications, 2007, 752pp), and The Complete Project Management Methodology and Toolkit (CRC Press/Auerbach Publications, 2009, 520pp). Today, in the first of two parts, Gerard and I discuss some of the areas covered in The Complete Project Management Office Handbook. The PMO Exists at the Intersection of Business and Project Management PMOs were originally created to help support the technical function within an organization.  However since that time, the function of a PMO has grown to include more business management.  Ideally, a PMO within an organization is situated to deal with both the project management environment as well as the business environment.  On the project management side, there are the project executives, the project managers, the technical members on the team, and the PMO itself.  On the business side, you have the business units and clients or customers that the PMO helps to represent. Five Progressive Stages of the PMO Competency Continuum There are five progressive and advancing stages of maturity for a PMO's capability and responsibility. Stage 1 of PMO maturity is The Project Office.  This is a essentially the project manager and project team working as a project office.  The project team typically provides its own oversight at this stage. The Stage 2 PMO, called The Basic PMO, contains process control in addition to project oversight.  The Basic PMO provides a full-cycle and repeatable process that can be used across all projects in an organization.  The Basic PMO would most likely be led by a program manager and might have several project managers and projects involved. The Stage 3 PMO, called The Standard PMO, is the level that most organizations need and want to have.  This level includes project control, oversight, as well as support.  The Standard PMO creates the infrastructure and capabilities to support a cohesive project management environment.  The Standard PMO has multiple projects, project managers, and perhaps even program managers under its control.  The head of the Standard PMO is usually a program director or senior program manager. Stage 4 is The Advanced PMO where business processes are truly integrated with project management processes.  This stage includes dedicated staff, including a PMO director that oversees the technical and business aspects of the project management environment. The final stage, Stage 5, is The Center of Excellence.  Here is where you manage continuous improvement and project management process implementation across the organization for the purpose of achieving strategic organizational goals. PMO Functions There are 5 functional areas and 20 functions as listed below. The Practice management functional group includes the functions of Project Management Methodology, Project Tools, Standards and Metrics, and Project Knowledge Management. The Infrastructure management group includes the functions Project Governance, Assessment, Organization and Structure, and Facilities and Equipment Support. Resource integration includes Resource Management, Training and Education, Career Development. Ron Holohan, MBA PMP no 26:55 http://pm411.org/2009/08/03/the-pm-podcast-pmo-roundtable/ http://pm411.org/2009/08/03/the-pm-podcast-pmo-roundtable/#comments Tue, 04 Aug 2009 00:12:39 +0000 Ron Holohan, MBA PMP http://pm411.org/?p=562 http://pm411.org/2009/08/03/the-pm-podcast-pmo-roundtable/feed/ 2 cornelius fichtner,pmo,shawn futterer Cornelius Fichtner, PMP, host of The PM Podcast, once again invited Shawn Futterer, PMP, of The ICPM website, and myself to a roundtable project management podcast discussion. In this roundtable discussion we focus on the Project Management Office (PMO). Cornelius Fichtner, PMP, host of The PM Podcast, once again invited Shawn Futterer, PMP, of The ICPM website, and myself to a roundtable project management podcast discussion. In this roundtable discussion we focus on the Project Management Office (PMO). Ron Holohan, MBA PMP no 47:51 http://pm411.org/2009/06/14/project-management-in-the-real-world-available-in-the-us/ http://pm411.org/2009/06/14/project-management-in-the-real-world-available-in-the-us/#comments Mon, 15 Jun 2009 00:20:19 +0000 Ron Holohan, MBA PMP http://pm411.org/?p=518 http://pm411.org/2009/06/14/project-management-in-the-real-world-available-in-the-us/feed/ 0 http://pm411.org/2008/04/14/episode-028-project-management-in-the-real-world-with-elizabeth-harrin/ http://pm411.org/2008/04/14/episode-028-project-management-in-the-real-world-with-elizabeth-harrin/#comments Tue, 15 Apr 2008 04:40:00 +0000 Ron Holohan, MBA PMP http://pm411.org/?p=202 http://pm411.org/2008/04/14/episode-028-project-management-in-the-real-world-with-elizabeth-harrin/feed/ 4 blogs,books Get the pm411.org Project Management Podcast delivered by email for free! - Your email address and personal information are confidential and will never be sold or rented. I recently had the opportunity to speak with author and blogger, Elizabeth Harrin, Get the pm411.org Project Management Podcast delivered by email for free! - Your email address and personal information are confidential and will never be sold or rented. I recently had the opportunity to speak with author and blogger, Elizabeth Harrin, of London, England.  Elizabeth is the author of the book Project Management in the Real World and has nearly a decade of experience in managing projects. She is a PRINCE2 practitioner and is trained in the Six Sigma process improvement methodology. Elizabeth has led a variety of IT and process improvement projects including those involving e-commerce, communications, and managing business change.  In addition to writing books, Elizabeth also writes the irreverent and popular blog A Girl's Guide to Managing Projects. During our conversation Elizabeth and I chatted about her book, her blog, and lots of other great stuff...   like extreme ultraviolet imaging space mass spectrometers! Project Management in the Real World Elizabeth decided to write the book that she had wanted to read when she started in the field of project management.  There were plenty of books on theory and techniques, but not too many on real-life experiences.  Early in her career Elizabeth found that by working closely on teams with other project managers, she was able to learn the trade quickly from others sharing their experiences.  So, with the goal of writing a book by the time she was thirty, Elizabeth decided to get information and experiences out of the heads of varios PM practitioners and into a book.  In writing the book, Elizabeth found people rather willing to share their experiences openly. One particular contributor, who was responsible for managing the assembly of mass spectrometers for measuring ultraviolet light images from space, was focused on directly eliminating every risk his project faced.  When you are talking about a £30 million project, you cannot risk finding a problem once the spectrometer has been assembled and has been launched into space.  However, instead of addressing risks by using a "textbook" approach of looking at the impact and probability of each risk occurring, the team looked at any impact as being unacceptable.  They had to adapt to the need that the impact of every single risk had to be eliminated as long as the probability of its occurrence was greater than zero. Office Politics and Self Promotion Office politics, as you can guess, is not something that Elizabeth recommends getting involved in.  Rather, she suggests being "organizational aware;" be astute and understand the background and motivation of your stakeholders, since they are critical to how you manage your project. Transparency is something that is very important when it comes to projects.  When you and your stakeholders have open communication, it is far easier to get things done.  Unfortunately sometimes you will run into people that have their own hidden agendas or "play people off each other" to get things done.  Stay clear of playing these games.  These behaviors are not good for building team relationships or morale.  Since most project managers have indirect line manager roles, burning bridges now with your team or stakeholders through office politics will only make your job more difficult later on. Self-promotion is something that Elizabeth feels is tricky to get right.  Project managers are often times the "unsung heroes" of project delivery.  If a project is on time, on budget, on delivery often times the team gets the majority of the credit, or even worse, stakeholders may feel that the team could have been pushed even harder.  In cases where projects do not meet their deliverables, then the project manager is often blamed.  That is just one of the unfortunate truths of project management.  So, it is important to sometimes "blow your horn" by showing that you are a practitioner of project management best practices, you share knowledge with others, Ron Holohan, MBA PMP no 35:39 http://pm411.org/2007/11/26/podcast-episode-018-leadership-and-teamwork-in-the-face-of-danger-part-2/ http://pm411.org/2007/11/26/podcast-episode-018-leadership-and-teamwork-in-the-face-of-danger-part-2/#comments Tue, 27 Nov 2007 01:37:43 +0000 Ron Holohan, MBA PMP http://pm411.org/2007/11/26/podcast-episode-018-leadership-and-teamwork-in-the-face-of-danger-part-2/ http://pm411.org/2007/11/26/podcast-episode-018-leadership-and-teamwork-in-the-face-of-danger-part-2/feed/ 0 In episode 018, we bring you part 2 of Pete Goss' story on various leadership and teamwork principles that he learned from some of his most life-harrowing adventures.  In today's show, Pete Goss concludes his presentation with the outcome of his her... In episode 018, we bring you part 2 of Pete Goss' story on various leadership and teamwork principles that he learned from some of his most life-harrowing adventures.  In today's show, Pete Goss concludes his presentation with the outcome of his heroic rescue of Frenchman  Raphael Dinelli during the 1996/97 Vendee Globe and his subsequent race with Team Philips. Show Notes: Close to the Wind by Pete Goss  http://www.petegoss.com/ Leadership and teamwork takeaways from Pete Goss’ presentation: Communication is a 2-way street and it is important to encourage team members to always share their ideas. Life isn't easy - you just have to deal with things as they come along. Making the right choice is part of making tough decisions and as the leader of a team you will find yourself faced with them. You truly can do anything if you want it bad enough. If you assemble a group of individuals and they commit their mind, body, and soul to a clear and simple goal they will make it. Life truly hangs by a delicate thread. "The cancer of time is complacency" - if you want to do something, you must do it now. "Obstacles are what you see the moment you take your eye off of the goal." "Responsibility is the most powerful thing you have as a leader." Very seldom do people not rise to their responsibility - but it is your contract; this is your gift, your challenge, your opportunity. To improve internal communications, "Bad News Meetings" were held between 4 or 5 team members where they would identify the Problem, determine the solution, assign a clear budget and timeline and assign those responsible for carrying out the task. Rather than worrying about life as a glass half-full or a glass half-empty, simply make the decision to "drink the bastard anyway!" "Without trying and courage you will never get progress." "Keeping a clear eye on the goal will give you solutions in the middle of the chaos." "If you choose to drive in the fast lane, you have to accept the consequences at the beginning and sometimes you have to take them on the chin with as much dignity as you can." "If you can get your team to work in the same direction, then you can achieve anything you set your mind to."    Leave us a voice message at (206) 984-3665 and let us know some of the adventures your team has been on!  Get the pm411.org Project Management Podcast delivered by email for free!  - Your email address and personal information are confidential and will never be sold or rented.      Ron Holohan, MBA PMP no 40:55 http://pm411.org/2007/11/12/podcast-episode-017-leadership-and-teamwork-in-the-face-of-danger-part-1/ http://pm411.org/2007/11/12/podcast-episode-017-leadership-and-teamwork-in-the-face-of-danger-part-1/#comments Tue, 13 Nov 2007 03:27:37 +0000 Ron Holohan, MBA PMP http://pm411.org/2007/11/12/podcast-episode-017-leadership-and-teamwork-in-the-face-of-danger-part-1/ http://pm411.org/2007/11/12/podcast-episode-017-leadership-and-teamwork-in-the-face-of-danger-part-1/feed/ 1 Last week I attended the Planview User Conference in Austin, Texas which featured Pete Goss as the keynote speaker.  Pete is a world adventurer and author of the book, Close to the Wind. - More astronauts have circled the Earth than the number of p... Last week I attended the Planview User Conference in Austin, Texas which featured Pete Goss as the keynote speaker.  Pete is a world adventurer and author of the book, Close to the Wind. More astronauts have circled the Earth than the number of people who have sailed single-handed non-stop around the world without assistance. The most recognized of Pete’s races was the 1996/7 Vendee Globe non-stop single-handed round the world yacht race in his Open 50 yacht Aqua Quorum. Aqua Quorum was the first British boat to enter the Vendee and the only new yacht to complete the course in a year which sadly claimed the lives of two sailors, with only six of the sixteen starters finishing the race.  The race turned Pete into a national hero overnight for the dramatic rescue of fellow competitor Raphael Dinelli when winds of up to 80mph pounded Frenchman Dinelli’s sinking boat. After receiving the distress call, Pete sent what may have been his last fax to his wife to explain what he was about to do and immediately turned round to rescue the Frenchman. He battled for two days to reach the near-dead Dinelli, who was extremely lucky to survive 48 hours in a freezing life raft. Pete, who scuppered his own chances of winning the race in order to save Dinelli, was awarded the MBE by HM The Queen and the Legion d'Honneur by the French President for his actions. In episode 017, we bring you part 1 of Pete Goss' story on various leadership and teamwork principles that he learned from some of his most life-harrowing adventures. Show Notes: Close to the Wind www.planview.com www.petegoss.com Leadership and teamwork takeaways from Pete Goss’ presentation: Good Leadership is all about challenging the norm. Good Management makes it more efficient. All one should look for in a team is a team full of leaders. You shouldn’t just take risks, but rather, you should embrace risks by properly preparing for them. “Knowledge dispels fear.” People often see successful teams as “lucky”, even if it required "18 hour days at 7 days a week" to be successful. Often times when you drill down into a successful team, what you will find is a group of people that is willing to create their own “luck” by putting their nose to the grindstone and having the courage to grab an opportunity when it comes past. If at particular milestones you are off course by 10%, you can always identify that 10% and polish it to improve longterm performance. During your team’s journey there will be problems and mistakes, but those mistakes can also be seen as lessons. Remember that the mistakes made on your team’s journey can turn into the cornerstones of later success. Don’t cry over the mistakes, but rather celebrate in the lessons. “All the dirty washing stays on board” – don’t air your differences with those outside of the team. Trust takes time and needs to come from the top.  Trust can only come from example – but once it does, then people on your team will feel comfortable to share their mistakes. “To win, you first have to finish.” Success comes from a clear and well-planned vision. The clearer your vision, the less likely you are to become lost. You do have to recognize that things will change as you move forward, and you need to be able to be willing to adapt your vision. But, unless your vision is clear from the start, you have no reference to make that change. “Anything new is difficult and anything that is difficult requires commitment.” “Unless you personally are absolutely committed to something, you cannot expect others to be committed with you.” Once you have lost control of a situation, all you can do is react. The key is to try not to lose control. “As you keep chipping away at life, you eventually come to a very clear and simple crossroads where you stand by your morals or principles, or you don’t.” If your values as a company, as a team, Ron Holohan, MBA PMP no 31:48 http://pm411.org/2007/09/23/standish-group-giveaway-winners/ http://pm411.org/2007/09/23/standish-group-giveaway-winners/#comments Mon, 24 Sep 2007 01:27:50 +0000 Ron Holohan, MBA PMP http://pm411.org/2007/09/23/standish-group-giveaway-winners/ http://pm411.org/2007/09/23/standish-group-giveaway-winners/feed/ 0 http://pm411.org/2007/08/12/free-project-management-giveaways/ http://pm411.org/2007/08/12/free-project-management-giveaways/#comments Mon, 13 Aug 2007 01:45:11 +0000 Ron Holohan, MBA PMP http://pm411.org/2007/08/12/free-project-management-giveaways/ http://pm411.org/2007/08/12/free-project-management-giveaways/feed/ 0