Archive for February, 2010
Sunday, February 28th, 2010
By Jennifer Whitt, PMP
“Success is 99 percent failure.” – Soichiro Honda, Founder, Honda Motor Corporation
If there is a radical thinking style, Assertive Thinking is it. With raw ambition and individual flair, the assertive thinker will often take over a project – for better or worse. Through sheer will, this thinker can move mountains, but she sometimes causes an earthquake in the process.
However, it’s the courage to try that makes the assertive thinker exceptional. Consequence is secondary to possibility. A problem is often an opportunity to shine. (more…)
Tags: Communication, Human Resources Management, Success
Posted in Jennifer Whitt, PMP, Optimize Your Thinking, PDUs2Go Author Article, SPECIAL EDITION | 2 Comments »
Sunday, February 28th, 2010
By Jennifer B. Kahnweiler, Ph.D.
Is it possible to prepare to motivate your employees? Yes! Part of the process involves understanding what motivates your people. Each person is different. Meeting with people one-on-one in the first 90 days of your job is a great strategy to understand more about who they are. You can then adapt your approach to match their needs. (more…)
Tags: Motivation
Posted in Introverted Leader, Jennifer B. Kahnweiler, PhD., PDUs2Go Author Article, SPECIAL EDITION | 2 Comments »
Sunday, February 28th, 2010
By Drew Stevens, Ph.D.
A majority of the issues related to worker productivity stem from enthusiasm or the lack thereof. Individuals simply go to work despite their abhorrence of their employer, the monotony, and the products.
• Leadership not serving as exemplars – some leaders today are narcissists, demeaning and ruthless. More importantly, leaders’ salaries can exceed employee pay by 425 times the average worker. Leaders need to act in harmony with employees and enure equal treatment of all. Cultures where this practice occurs frequently include McDonalds, Fed Ex and UPS where employees and management are one. (more…)
Tags: Management, Motivation, Relationships
Posted in AUTHORS, Drew Stevens, PhD., PDUs2Go Author Article, SPECIAL EDITION, Split Second, newsletters | 1 Comment »
Sunday, February 28th, 2010
By Don Joseph Goewey
Science divides “stress” into two parts: a stressor and stress. It defines a stressor as any kind of a demand that life imposes. It can be another task that gets added to your to-do list, or a traffic jam or a difficult boss. Stressors are relative: The same stressor that ruins my day may not bother you at all, and vice-versa.
Science defines stress as the appraisal that this demand is something that must be addressed, together with the perception that the demand overwhelms your resources. (more…)
Tags: Stress, Success
Posted in Don Goewey, PDUs2Go Author Article, ProAttitude, SPECIAL EDITION | 1 Comment »
Sunday, February 28th, 2010
By Caroline Nightbird
The cover story of Time Magazine on June 6th, 1983 declared America “In the Age of Stress”. It depicted us as a society consumed by demands for our resources and threats to our well-being.
Since that time in 1983 when the official diagnosis of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder was first categorized by the Board of Medicine and Psychology there has been little effort made to define the parameters of stress, thus leaving us (the lay-person) to define ANYTHING with an overwhelming effect…. as stress. (more…)
Tags: Stress
Posted in AUTHORS, Caroline Nightbird, Corporate Post Traumatic Stress Disorder™, PDUs2Go Author Article, SPECIAL EDITION | No Comments »
Sunday, February 28th, 2010
By Tom Kellen
Have you ever had one of these kinds of days? You need to meet with Joe, so you pick up the phone and call his office, but he’s not in yet so you leave him a message. Joe calls back right when you are in the middle of your weekly team meeting and leaves you a message. Thus beginnith the new “meeting message ping pong game”. It’s time to opt out of that game and make your life a bit easer. Enter, Tungle.me.
Tungle is an on-line scheduling service that also runs on multiple platforms and really makes scheduling those meetings a breeze. As it says on Tungle’s web site: (more…)
Tags: Collaboration, Communications Management, Meeting, Technology
Posted in AUTHORS, PDUs2Go Author Article, SPECIAL EDITION, Tech Tools for PMP's, Tom Kellen | 1 Comment »
Sunday, February 28th, 2010
By Lakecia Carter, PMP
Are you a good backseat driver? A backseat driver is a vehicle passenger who is not driving, yet seems to be nervous and uncomfortable with the driver’s skills and/or wants to teach the driver while he/she is at the wheel. If you are a backseat driver in this context or know of someone who is, we all can agree this can be very annoying and counterproductive. PMs have a lot a common with backseat drivers, but I believe it is in a positive and productive way. In most cases, we are not the persons directly responsible for completing the tasks on the project. However, we don’t have to uncomfortable, nervous or criticize the driver’s actions. Instead, we can be ‘good’ backseat drivers and develop stronger and better drivers on our teams.
Here are 5 leadership tips to keep in mind while driving: (more…)
Tags: Communication, Motivation, Project Management
Posted in AUTHORS, Lakecia Carter, PMP, PDUs2Go Author Article, PMPepTalk!, SPECIAL EDITION | 4 Comments »
Sunday, February 28th, 2010
By Bob Rausch, Ph.D.
You just left your boss’ office and were told you made a huge mistake on an important project. What you say to yourself walking back to your office makes a world of difference in your attitude, performance, and energy. Every thought you think and every emotion you feel requires energy. Cars use gasoline and light bulbs use electricity and your body uses an unlimited supply of energy we are all provided. How you choose to use your energy is up to you. The truth is that we drain more energy on mental and emotional issues than on physical ones. Here are seven rules that can help you maintain higher mental and emotional energy. (more…)
Tags: Motivation, Relationships, Stress
Posted in AUTHORS, Bob Rausch, PhD., PDUs2Go Author Article, Physics of Performance, SPECIAL EDITION | 4 Comments »
Sunday, February 28th, 2010
by MaryGrace Allenchey, PMP
While we may all enthusiastically anticipate and enjoy the excitement of collegiate basketball’s March Madness, we most likely expect our projects and programs to sustain a more controlled delivery and finish!
The journey to perfection in any undertaking requires continuous application or practice of fundamental, basic techniques or moves.
Project and Program Management (PM) best practices enable successful, effective and efficient delivery of quality products and services…. products and services that meet or even exceed stakeholders’ functional specifications and performance expectations! (more…)
Tags: Project Management
Posted in AUTHORS, MaryGrace Allenchey, PMP, PDUs2Go Author Article, PM Diamond Dynamics, SPECIAL EDITION | No Comments »
Sunday, February 28th, 2010
By Mac M. Martirossian
Electronic communication tools have replaced the water cooler as the place for most of to “present” our point of view. Of course, each time we do so, we have an opportunity to take two distinct courses of action—support or destruction.
It is easier to tear down than to build…ask any construction engineer. Building requires planning, having support beams in place, putting the right accent pieces to highlight the features of the structure. Destroying an idea, a person or an organization requires nothing but a few words.
Management is about making decisions and in this context, at each interface with peers and direct reports, making a choice. Here are some points to ponder in those interactions: (more…)
Tags: Management
Posted in AUTHORS, Mac M. Martirossian, CPA, Making a Difference, PDUs2Go Author Article, SPECIAL EDITION | No Comments »
