Raven's Brain v1.0

Raven's Brain - NEW FEED and Domain: www.RavensBrain.com

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 06:00:09 Z

Raven's Brain has moved to http://www.ravensbrain.com/. If you receive your updates via email and you haven't received a "Newsletter Transfer Confirmation" email yet, you'll need to sign up again to receive updates from the new site via email.

If you subscribe via a RSS reader you will need to update your feed to receive updates from the new site:

Raven's Brain V2.0 FEED: http://feeds.feedburner.com/ravensbrain2

The new blog still needs some tweaks and edits, but it's a decent start. You can check out the welcome post at the new site here: http://www.ravensbrain.com/2008/07/raven-youngs-blog-ravens-brain-has.html. I plan on continuing to post regularly - while continuing to enjoy my lazy summer!

Final change - I have an updated email address to match the new domain:

If you're wondering why I decided to make these changes check out my last post here: Raven's Brain - Lost In Transition.

I will post another entry here with some summary thoughts on my Windows Live Spaces experience and the accomplishments of this blog in the last 30-something months.

Thanks to everyone who has (and will continue to) stop by. You've made blogging a great experience!

- Raven
www.RavensBrain.com

Raven's Brain - Lost In Transition

Sat, 26 Jul 2008 02:36:48 Z

Just a quick note to let everyone know that I am in the process of relocating this blog. I will publish the new feed and info as soon as everything is set up and new posts will be coming soon from the new blog.

This blog currently has over 230 subscribers via Feedburner, 100 subscribers at Bloglines, 50-something at NewsGator, and numerous links and references from other blogs. I'm averaging 1,000 page views a day, over 30,000 visits a month so it's a bit disappointing to make the move. I would love to just move the feed but Windows Live Spaces has many short comings (which is why I'm moving) and a big one is the lack of comment functionality. Oh, WLS has comments, it just requires that a user sign up with a WLS account in order to leave one (want to guess how many people actually take the time?). And no - they don't provide the API to comments, which might have been hackable but...

It's been almost three years and I keep hoping the platform here would grow more robust, but now the lacking functionality (no scripting, only basic HTML, no support for widgets, no anonymous comments allowed, no anti-spam control, no comment moderation section, no statistics or control panel, blah, blah, blah) is crippling growth and stifling conversations.

I've had the domain RavensBrain.com for a while, as well as RavenYoung.com, so I will definitely be using these going forward. I hope everyone will stay tuned and update their RSS readers and site links to the new site feed, when available.

Stay tuned!

-Raven

Project Managers: Team Coaching Helps Boost Performance

Sat, 19 Jul 2008 17:06:41 Z

MindTools has a great article to help project managers (or any manager) build high performing teams and increase productivity through better relationships. Coaching for Team Performance outlines the benefits of team coaching and explains the importance of team dynamics. It's written to help you develop an established team with a solid foundation to build upon and shows how team members can gain useful insight by trying to understand each others perspectives and see each other differently.

If you're looking for ways to develop and grow your team in a positive direction, check out this excerpt:

Coaching to improve team performance can need different approaches for different teams and different people. What works for one team may not necessarily work for another.

Effective working relationships are built by understanding team members' needs, preferences, and styles of work. By helping people understand their own styles and appreciate the different styles of others, you can work with them to change their behaviors and use everyone's strengths.
The process of improving team performance takes time, and it may involve looking deeper than team processes. Organizational systems – like reward and recognition, performance management, and training – may need to be addressed as well.
However, the end result of this work is usually well worth it; improved collaboration and communication will benefit the organization as whole.

Read the full meal deal here: http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTMM_66.htm

Avoid The Top 5 Pitfalls Of Managing Technology Projects

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 02:03:25 Z

The July 2008 issue of PMWorldToday (an informative global project management e-zine, by the way) has an interesting article for tech PMs and others working on technology projects: Avoiding the Top Five Traps of Technical Project Management (PDF). It's written by Bob McGannon, PMP, who has a long history of providing solid project management training, consulting, & coaching services. He shares his experience in working on technology projects and provides tips for avoiding some common "traps" when managing them. Here's an excerpt:

Managing technology projects can be one of the most challenging arenas of project management. Ironically, it is rarely the technology itself that presents obstacles for the technical project manager. Being mindful of the most common traps that await the unsuspecting project manager can help ensure your technical projects don’t end up as financial disasters that don’t deliver expected function, and diminish the reputation of yourself and your technical organization.
1. It is about business process, not the technical tool
The intent of a project is to move the business to a better place. That better place can mean increased efficiency, additional capabilities or an improvement in the accuracy of the business’ output. Regardless of the nature of the business improvement, it is enhanced process that will drive the superior results. It is not necessarily as a result of a tool, a new IT system or improved technology – these are only the catalyst for the improved process which drives business results. Many project managers and their teams mistake the new technology as being the output of the project, rather than the enhanced process that results in conjunction with implementing new technology.
Read the rest here (PDF): http://www.pmforum.org/library/tips/2008/PDFs/McGannon-7-08.pdf

The other four "traps" discussed include:

2. Moderate the amount of change your technology users must absorb
3. We understand the business better than our customer does!
4. There are no "small" changes
5. New function isn't necessarily new value

My thoughs - a decent list. #3 is very common - and not just to technology projects, and #4 "there are no small changes" would make a great tattoo for ANY project manager's forehead - or, at a minimum, burned into their memory for life!

Posted by Raven Young at Raven's Brain under Project Management
Technorati tags: Project Management, IT Project Management, Technology Projects, Project Management Blog, Project Management Posts

Project Managers: Just Say No!

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:23:04 Z

Much has been written about the importance of open, effective communication, but often "saying no" isn't a focus in the articles and lists of communication tips. I just read an article at ProjectConnections with a telling title: The Hardest Word in the Project Management Vocabulary. Now, One may be the loneliest number but "no" has got to be the loneliest word in the in project management - we just don't use it enough, even when it's perfectly appropriate! How do get better at it? Check out the intro to Carl Pritchard's article below and learn how to Just Say No!

For project managers, "no" is often the toughest word in the English language to deploy. We often prefer the classic PM strategy of "Yes, but..." as the softer, kinder, gentler alternative. "No" sounds harsh. Uncooperative. It sounds reticent and recalcitrant. It sounds negative. And yet, for many of us, the time has come as professionals to set "yes, but..." aside and venture into the world of "no."
I say this because I note that with increasing frequency, clients are not taking "yes, but..." as an answer. No sooner do we offer a "yes-we-can-do-that, but-it-costs-you-another-million" response that the customer hears only the first half of the equation. They often seem far more interested in capability than cost. As a result, when we come to the table with the costs for their ventures, they balk.
One of my clients recently asked for a much higher level of review and a much higher degree of involvement in my consulting work than that to which I have become accustomed through the years. I agreed to a single review, but during that review, it became very clear that this was not to be a one-time event. They wanted more and more involvement in the work I have historically done to great accolades. And so, at the end of the first conference call, I tried a "yes, but.." approach.
Read more here: http://blog.projectconnections.com/carl_pritchard/2008/05/the-hardest-wor.html

You'll need to read the complete article to get the whole story, but it's a good piece on the importance of learning to say NO tactfully and guilt-free. There is a lot of good info in the blogosphere on "how to say no" or "learning to say no" and each piece offers it's own insights, perspective and unique tips. Here are a few great resources to help you learn how to Just Say No:

Posted by Raven Young at Raven's Brain under Project Management
Technorati tags: Project Management, Project Communication, Effective Communication, Project Management Blog, How To Say No

IT Professionals - 5 Do's and 5 Don'ts for managing up

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 17:40:00 Z

ComputerWorld has two articles discussing ten do's and don'ts when working with your CIO. There is a common theme in each piece with a focus on transparency, honesty, solid information and the "real" picture, and both articles offer advice on managing up and working more effectively with your CIO or other IT manager.

I found the tips to be realistic and not rooted in some pie-in-the-sky fantasy world. If you look below there some solid steps you can take now to begin working better with most managers, whether in IT or not. As always, you could add more to the list, or argue about what should be in the "top 5", but take these two article for what they are - good resources to learn about communicating useful information and managing up effectively.

Five things you should never tell your boss
Here's the information he's relying on you to provide.
(note - tips below are truncated)

1. All about the technology -- and nothing about the business. Acting like the business is terra incognita is a no-no. "Never tell me you don't know what the business wants but you'll build it when they decide," says James E. Schinski...

2. There's only one solution. "People can sometimes develop a fondness for a certain technology or programming language or manufacturer into almost a religion, but it's never the case that one type of solution is the proper one for all situations,"...

3. Bad opinions about your colleagues. It's a simple rule that can get overlooked when your team is struggling with a missed deadline or a failing project, but think before you point a finger, because bosses generally don't want to hear about it -- especially if you haven't tried to work it out on your own...

4. There's no way. Robert Strickland, senior vice president and CIO of T-Mobile USA Inc. in Bellevue, Wash., makes his position very clear: Everything is possible...

5. A surprise. CIOs almost universally say they don't like surprises -- particularly unpleasant ones. Ian S. Patterson, CIO at Scottrade Inc., a St. Louis-based online brokerage firm, says he always prefers to hear news -- good and bad -- directly from his workers. So when someone comes by and starts with "I want to give you a heads up," it really catches his attention....
Five things you should always tell your boss
There are some things your CIO definitely doesn't want to hear.
(note - tips below are truncated)
1. The real story. "Sugarcoating problems, holding back information, overpromising and consistently underdelivering are all reasons why IT has a bad reputation. We do this so well, we don't even realize there is a problem," says Robert Strickland, senior vice president and CIO of T-Mobile USA Inc. in Bellevue, Wash. "To lead effectively, I need the complete picture, as do our customers and our suppliers. When information is withheld, you are protecting no one."...

2. Your ideas. "Bring me ideas to improve the business, even if they're outside of IT,"...

3. What you want. Ted Maulucci, CIO at Tridel Corp., a condominium developer in Toronto, tries to shift his workers into the jobs that they enjoy most. It helps with employee retention, office morale and productivity. He points to one employee who loves working on hardware so much, he'll come in at 3 a.m. to tackle a new project....

4. No. It takes courage to tell the boss that you don't agree, but it's better for all involved when you say no to suggested projects, timelines, budgets or technologies that just aren't going to work, says Michael F. Williams,...

5. Your successes. No one wants to spend each day hearing only about project setbacks, failed servers and unexpected downtime. Good news is welcome too. Yet IT workers seem reluctant to promote the positive, Kalia says. "The thought process doesn't take place in their heads, or maybe they think that what they're doing isn't that special," he says...

I know some will say their managers don't want the real story - this would be common if you work for a "just get it done!" manager, which probably means they don't want to hear about your ideas or successes and "NO" probably isn't in the organization's vocabulary. Hopefully you are fortunate enough to work for an organization that cares about it's people and sets everyone up for success. With transparency comes more open communications and people will learn that being honest and presenting the real picture is not only acceptable - but expected.

image courtesy: Shoebox Blog

posted by Raven at Raven's Brain under Management
Tags: Management, Managing Up, Management Tips, Management Blog, Management Resources

Ten Golden Rules Of Project Management Maturity & Team Effectiveness

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 17:45:46 Z

allPM has an article by Dhanu Kothari discussing "the human side of project management" and detailing Ten Golden Rules Of Project Management Maturity & Team Effectiveness. Some interesting thoughts are outlined and there is a questionnaire at the end to help you assess your own team's effectiveness. You'll want to read the complete post for proper context, and to get all the great insights, for now here are the "10 golden rules" (truncated):

Golden Rule # 1: Develop a Project Organization

Are there specific individuals who are identified as the Sponsor and the Customer or Client for the project?
Does everyone know who has the single source of responsibility for the project?
Golden Rule # 2: Formulate a Team Purpose

Is there a common understanding of project objectives and deliverables among all players?
Are the “Vision, Purpose, Goals” of the project documented and supported by a scope definition with SMART objectives (i.e. Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Target-driven)?
Golden Rule # 3: Scope and Sell the Project

Do you know who your clients are and do you have their enthusiastic support?
Do you have a presentation that explains the business benefits of the project, its major components, how the project will be implemented and why it takes as long as it does?
Golden Rule # 4: Insulate Team from Management Issues

Is there a process for escalating problems to management and resolving issues?
Does the Project Manager resolve internal team conflicts expeditiously, and stand up for the team when dealing with external influences, management and stakeholders?
Golden Rule # 5: Teams Optimize, Individuals Maximize

Does every team member clearly understand his/her deliverables, acceptance criteria, and the individuals who will be approving or accepting the deliverable?
Is there an agreed facilitation process for team discussion and issue resolution?
Golden Rule # 6: Encourage & Facilitate Open Communication

Is there a formal and structured communication process in place consisting of reviews, status reports, minutes of meetings and management updates etc.?
Does the Communication Plan include weekly “One on One” reviews with team members?
Golden Rule # 7: Institutionalize Positive Mindset

Do your team members believe that their meetings are generally productive?
Do you invite team members to provide feedback on the content and process of the meeting so that you can continually improve the management and performance of meetings?
Golden Rule # 8: Remember the Five “R”s

Does the project team practice and follow through the 5Rs - Respect, Recognition, Rewards, Rest and Recreation?
Is the project baseline schedule realistic and based on reasonable assumptions?
Golden Rule # 9: Implement Consistent & Predictable Processes

Are team members trained in the fundamentals of Project Management and are they familiar with the organization’s business terminology and Project Management Methodology?
Do team members clearly understand the differences and context of the various methodologies used for project management, system design, systems development, proprietary solutions and IT operations, etc.?

Golden Rule # 10: Transition the Team Graciously

Do you get a formal signoff from the client whenever a project deliverable is approved and accepted?
Do you take the time to provide feedback to team members on their project performance?

Read complete article here: http://www.allpm.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=1924&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0

I love to hear from readers - your comments matter! WL Spaces comments require login - feel free to drop me an email if you have something to say! Even better, let me know if you'd like to post a guest article here at Raven's Brain - You know you want to!

Posted by Raven Young at Raven's Brain under Project Management
Technorati tags: Project Management, Project Management Article, Project Management Links, Project Management Blog, Project Management Posts

Hey You! July is National Cell Phone Courtesy Month

Sat, 05 Jul 2008 16:25:47 Z

Hmm, it's July 5th and I *just* heard that July is National Cell Phone Courtesy Month. Obnoxious cell phone users are a serious source of frustration here in Seattle, and I suspect we're not alone. I'm hoping more newsies will cover the story of this month-long effort and highlight the need for better etiquette when using their moile phone, but as we continue to live in our own bubbles and ignore common courtesy, I wonder what impact this initiative will really have..

I visited the page dedicated to the cause and found a list of common sense tips for using your mobile phone without annoying those around you - This means YOU, guy at the video store yesterday, using speakerphone to decide what to watch..really? Speakerphone? Are we that lazy that we can't even hold the phone up to our ears anymore? Might I at least suggest a headset? That way the entire video store won't have to listen to your thoughts on every single movie you touch. But I digress.. Here are thirteen common sense tips created by Jacqueline Whitmore, "one of the nation's foremost experts on etiquette and protocol", in honor of National Cell Phone Courtesy Month (July):

Be all there. When you're in a meeting, performance, courtroom or other busy area, let calls go to voicemail to avoid a disruption. In some instances, turning your phone off may be the best solution.
Keep it private. Be aware of your surroundings and avoid discussing private or confidential information in public. You never know who may be in hearing range.
Keep your cool. Don't display anger during a public call. Conversations that are likely to be emotional should be held where they will not embarrass or intrude on others.
Learn to vibe. Use your wireless phone's silent or vibration settings in public places such as business meetings, religious services, schools, restaurants, theaters or sporting events so that you do not disrupt your surroundings.
Avoid "cell yell." Remember to use your regular conversational tone when speaking on your wireless phone. People tend to speak more loudly than normal and often don't recognize how distracting they can be to others.
Follow the rules. Some places, such as hospitals or airplanes, restrict or prohibit the use of mobile phones, so adhere to posted signs and instructions. Some jurisdictions may also restrict mobile phone use in public places.
Excuse yourself. If you are expecting a call that can't be postponed, alert your companions ahead of time and excuse yourself when the call comes in; the people you are with should take precedence over calls you want to make or receive.
Send a message. Use Text Messaging to send and receive messages without saying a single word.
Watch and listen discreetly. New multimedia applications such as streaming video and music are great ways to stay informed and access the latest entertainment. However, adjust the volume based on your surroundings in much the same way that you would adjust your ringer volume. Earphones are a great way to avoid distracting others in public areas.
Alert silently. When using your phone's walkie-talkie feature, send the person you're trying to reach a Call Alert before starting to speak. If you're around other people, turn off your phone's external speaker and use the vibration setting to minimize any disturbance and to respect your contact's privacy.
Be a good Samaritan. Use your cell phone to help others. According to CTIA, The Wireless Association, more than 224,000 calls a day are made to 911 and other emergency numbers by mobile phone users who report crimes and potentially life-threatening emergencies.
Focus on driving. Practice wireless responsibility while driving. Don't make or answer calls while in heavy traffic or in hazardous driving conditions. Place calls when your vehicle is not moving, and use a hands-free device to help focus attention on safety. Always make safety your most important call.
Spread the word. Discuss cell phone manners with friends and family members. Tell them that you are practicing new wireless phone etiquette rules and offer to share them (www.sprint.com/etiquette).
Read more here: http://www.etiquetteexpert.com/cellphone.html

At the link above you can learn more about why the campaign was created, listen to a podcast with etiquette tips and, more importantly, you can take the cell phone etiquette quiz to see if you know the "best" ways to be courteous and avoid offending others when talking on your mobile phone. As you probably noted above, these are basic, seemingly "no-brainer" steps you can take, and the quiz, though pretty basic, can help expose your own behavior and thoughts on "appropriate" cell phone usage. It's unfortunate that so many folks are annoying many more folks with their cell phone behavior, and pretty pathetic that a month-long campaign was established to combat our r-u-d-e behavior.

Ok, putting soap box away..

posted by Raven at Raven's Brain under Personal Growth
Tags: Personal Growth, Cell Phone Month, Cell Phone Etiquette, Common Courtesy

Project Management Link-Fest July 1st, 2008

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 01:57:20 Z

The Project Management Link-fest - a list of links focused on project management and related business topics, hand picked by yours truly! The last time I posted a link-fest was the end of March, and I hope to post them more regularly going forward.

Wondering how posts get added to my Project Management Link-fest? Like Bas at Project Shrink, I follow a TON of project management blogs, not to mention the numerous management, personal/professional development and leadership blogs I subscribe to. I read a lot of solid, project management focused and related content, and don't have time to do a post on each item I come across, so a lot of good stuff gets put in the bucket for the next link-fest. I want to highlight some of the great thoughts out there, as they are what fuel my blog's fire! Of course, if you have something PMish you're really proud of you can always send me an email and I might just add your piece to the project management link-fest pie - yum!

Project management links you might have missed:

Motivational Theory in Project Management & Uncertainty in estimates of software projects, fort building, and anything including a toddler, Ron Holohan
PM Tools - The Nature of Scope, Larry Cone
Free Intro to Project Management Presentation, ProjectPerfect
There Is No Iron Triangle In Project Management & Experienced Project Managers Stop Learning, Bas De Baar
5 Opportunities to Question for Effective Project Leadership, Project Management and Risk Management: Is Risk Managing You? & Personal Feelings and Project Performance, John Reiling
The Curse of Knowledge and Making Decisions, Max Wideman
A Primer for Embracing Project-Based Work, Randy Englund
Taking Over a Project in Progress, Tim Millett
Are you 'On Strategy, Craig Brown
Webinar: Ten Tips for Driving Better Project Outcomes, Jack Vinson
Emotional Intelligence for PM's - New Webinar Available & People Skills - Not So Important to Project Managers, Anthony Mersino
Models of PM Success & IMP/IMS and Deliverables Based Planning, Glen Alleman
Handoffs Don’t Work, Johanna Rothman
What’s Wrong with Requirements, Stacey Douglas
Building trust by making different promises, Clarke Ching
The Right Stuff: Measuring What Counts & Do You Know Your Stats?, gantthead
RUMBA- The Fail Proof Project Management Dance, The Project Management Hut
“Negotiating Using a Project Charter” Published, Alex Brown
Successful projects are led not managed, Great Project Management
Managing Across Cultures - Not So Easy - Podcast, Lisa A. Grant
Project Engagement (MMP#46), David Zinger

Related links:

Book Review: Dreaming in Code & Improving Employee Engagement, Eric D. Brown
Age, Gender, and Culture: The Human Brew & The Gen Y-Friendly Workplace, Jerry Manas
10 and 1/2 commandments of visual thinking & How to get the mentoring you need Craig Brown
New Software Executive Report Available: Managing Core Development, Steve McConnell
Productive Jealousy - Is There is Enough Sun for Everyone to Tan?, Christopher Hawkins
Listening and Respect, Stephen Seay
Seven Personal Development Books - Free!, Mike Ramm
Are stronger professional associations the key to better work literacy?, Eclectic Bill
The contemplated action contains the seed of its result, Jack Vinson
Here Be Dragons - An Introduction to Critical Thinking, Adam Goucher
Leaders vs. Managers….. Are they really different?, George Ambler

Stay tuned for the next batch of e-x-c-e-l-l-e-n-t links and do feel free to drop me an email if you have something you'd like referenced in the next project management link-fest - you just might get included! Even better, let me know if you'd like to post a guest article here at Raven's Brain - You know you want to!

Handling Conflict in Teams: Divide Or Conquer by Diana Mclain Smith

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:59:50 Z

In a recent post I mentioned Diana Mclain Smith's new book Divide or Conquer- How Great Teams Turn Conflict Into Strength. Search queries pour in to my blog each day with phrases containing some form of "dealing with" or "handling" conflict. It's good to see folks are interested in learning how to work through confrontations and conflicts, and Diana's new book, released last month (June 2008), will serve as an excellent resource for those looking to handle/deal with/manage/work through conflict and how to grow from these situations.

I already consider Divide or Conquer to be a must-read for CEOs, middle managers and newbies to the business world. There is so much to learn about conflict, confrontations and building strong relationships, and this book is a great place to start.

Diana's ideas on conflict are not only interesting and based in the real world, they will help anyone improve their important business relationships and get more out of them. With Bill Gates recent departure from Microsoft, I found Smith's thoughts on the Gates/Balmer relationship at Microsoft timely and interesting. Comparing their positive relationship to that of the broken, and highly publicized relationship betwen Scully and Jobs from Apple helped show just how critical good relationships are to a company's success. It also highlighted the fact that poor or broken relationships can lead to serious damage to both the organization (external) and it's people (internal).

I always enjoy a little humor with my reads and Smith's book makes for an interesting, smart and easy read with a high return. You'll learn how to develop strong, flexible business relationships and understand how they affect both your own and the organization's success. You'll get ideas on how to reshape your thinking and avoid "framing" people through the practical advice, and you'll learn to how to s-l-o-w down your thinking and assumptions so you can have real, productive conversations.

If you're interested in learning more about how conflict, relationships and teams affect your perfonal/professional success, definitely check out Divide or Conquer- How Great Teams Turn Conflict Into Strength.

Here are some links with more about author Diana Smith and her new book Divide or Conquer- How Great Teams Turn Conflict Into Strength:

About the book: http://www.dianamclainsmith.com/dmsmith-book-overview.htm
About Diana: http://www.dianamclainsmith.com/dmsmith-bio.htm
Podcasts: http://www.dianamclainsmith.com/dmsmith-podcasts.htm (Why Teams Fail., Why Divide or Conquer?, Why Stronger or Weaker?)
CMM Podcast: The Cranky Middle Manager Show #148 Conflict in Teams- Diana Mclain Smith.
ManageSmarter excerpt: Team Strength: The Life and Death of a Relationship
LeadershipTurn: Book review: Divide or Conquer: How Great Teams Turn Conflict into Strength
800 CEO READ review: Divide or Conquer
800 CEO READ audio interview: Diana McLain Smith: the author experience

posted by Raven Young at Raven's Brain under Leadership
Tags: Leadership, Leadership Blogs, Personal Development, Personal Growth, Conflict

Podcast: Earning Trust,the four main components

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 14:15:29 Z

David Maister has a fabulous podcast titled Earning Trust. It runs a tight 16 minutes and is an interesting and informative discussion on the subject of building trust. In this podcast David talks about the four main components of trustworthiness:

Credibility - about words (builds trust)
Reliability - about actions, (builds trust)
Intimacy - about emotions, (builds trust)
Self-Orientation - about motives, (reduces trust)

I believe these four dimensions to be a valuable way to assess my own behavior and can see how they can help anyone develop trust. Leaders cannot lead effectively without trust so learning how to build trust is critical to your success. Listen to Earning Trust here: http://davidmaister.com/podcasts.archives/5/55/ to get started!

posted by Raven Young at Raven's Brain under Leadership
Tags: Leadership, Leadership Podcast, Trustworthiness, Trust, Developing Trust

Project Management "Tricks of the Trade®" Contest - Win $500 - $2,000

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 21:19:53 Z

I read a question at LinkedIn and it reminded me of an ongoing contest for project managers. Below is my answer to the question: What is your Best Project Management Trick that works?

This reminds me - RMC is running their "Project Management Tricks of the Trade® Contest" for 2008. Multiple submissions are allowed and top three winners will be announced in September. Top three tips cash prizes of $500, $1,000 and $2,000.

Last years winner wrote about a newsletter he created for his project team. If you can think of a creative PM tip or technique, give it a shot. You only need 500 words or so and there are samples available. (FYI - I'm not affiliated in anyway with RMC.)

One good PM tip is to factor non-project work into your schedule. We often forget that people take vacations, get sick, need last minute personal days, jury duty, etc. and how often do we factor in "work time" that isn't on the project - like corporate events, non-project meetings, training, professional development, commitments to other teams and projects? Not very often. Committing every resource to a given project for 8 hours a day without factoring these time-eaters in might give you a better looking schedule (quicker delivery) but it iwon't be realistic, and organizations that don't consider these common schedule factors probably don't care about reality (just get it done!).

Read more answers, or respond yourself here: http://www.linkedin.com/answers/business-operations/project-management/OPS_PRJ/259984-21068376

For more info on the Project Management "Tricks of the Trade®" Contest:

Do you consider yourself an innovative project manager? Do you have a project management trick, technique or creative way to use a tool that helps get your projects completed on time and on budget? If so, you could win up to $2,000 for your knowledge in RMC’s Project Management Tricks of the Trade® Contest. The requirements are simple: you submit your favorite trick using the form below, a panel of experts from RMC will evaluate it and assign it a grade, and the best three submitted tricks will win a cash prize

$2,000 for the best trick
$1,000 for the second best trick
$500 for the third best trick

Learn more here:

If you submit a tip or answer the LinkedIn Question, I'd love to hear your response and share here. Email me and spread the project management tips and techniques that help make you a success!

posted by Raven Young at Raven's Brain under Project Management
Technorati tags: Project Management Tips, Project Management, PM Tips, Project Management Techniques

7 Reasons for the Rapid Growth of Project Management in IT

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 17:52:34 Z

PM World Today's June 2008 edition has an interesting article for those working in Tech/IT: Seven Good Reasons for the Rapid Growth of Project Management in IT and why that Trend will Continue (PDF). As a project manager who focuses on web and software development projects I was interested in reading author David L. Pells thoughts on the future of IT and project management. Solid insights - Here's an excerpt to get you started:

Over the last decade, modern professional project management (PM) has been embraced by organizations involved in information technology (IT) more rapidly and more seriously than in any other sectors. The increased use of PM in technology organizations has been astounding, as reflected by the rapid growth in membership in the Project Management Institute (PMI). PMI has seen its membership increase from 50,000 to over 270,000 worldwide over the last 12 years, with 80% of the new members working in IS, IT, Telecoms and other technology-oriented organizations. In particular, PMI’s Project Management Professional (PMP) certification has been widely embraced and adapted by IT organizations, to the point where the PMP is now one of the most sought after certifications within the IT sector.
Many of us who have been involved with the PM profession for many years have been amazed at these trends, wondering what it all means. Is the PM profession now to be completely dominated by IS and IT organizations? Why haven’t we seen similar growth in adapting PM among older, more traditional, project-oriented industries and organizations, for example, in aerospace, construction and defense? What is really driving these trends? Why all the interest in PM by IT professionals and companies? Will this trend continue?
In this paper, Seven major reasons why I think that PM has been so rapidly and fully embraced by IT organizations and professionals are outlined. In the context of this article, I include software, hardware, systems and subsystems development in the IT sector. The factors discussed below apply to all of these industries, and the projects and organizations within those industries. The reasons described below have all put pressure on technology organizations to embrace professional PM. When considered together, these factors have created enormous pressure to improve performance on IT programs and projects.
Read more here (PDF): http://www.pmforum.org/library/editorials/2008/PDFs/Pells-6-08.pdf

In case you're wondering, The "Seven Good Reason for rapid growth of project management in the IT sector" discussed are:

Massive investments in IT worldwide
The natural project-orientation of IT
The increasing complexity of IT programs and projects
Rapidly changing technologies
IT project failures
The Information Age - The Third Wave has arrived
IT crosses all industries, organizations and projects

And author David L. Pells does a good job of detailing each item in the article. Definitely worth checking out if you work in/around IT. The paper is in PDF format and is 14 pages in length, including graphics, references, resources, bio, etc. Ch-Ch-Check it out!

posted by Raven Young at Raven's Brain under Project Management
Technorati tags: IT Project Management, Project Management, Software Development

Failing Forward: 4 Reasons Failure Can Be Positive

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 17:40:48 Z

Search queries containing the words "fail","failure" or "failing" have been growing since my post on failure last month. In that post are links to a few more posts with a focus on "failing forward", and here is one from The Positivity Blog: 4 Reasons Why Failure is Pretty Awesome. It discusses some reasons one might stop looking at failure as a way of learning:

Being too hard on oneself.
School and society grades us and makes failure something bad.
The ego helps to develop a victim identity.
It’s not “normal”.
Too little of being in the now.

And details 4 ways to find the positive side of failure:

You learn.
You gain experiences you could not get any other way.
You become stronger.
Your chances of succeeding increases.

I agree with each of these four positives and feel that the first one is especially important. If you aren't set up to learn, or open enough to accept that you need to learn, failure is more likely to be a negative in your reality. Check out the complete post from Henrik Edberg to get all the great insights on failing forward.

posted by Raven at Raven's Brain under Personal Growth
Tags: Personal Growth, Failure, Failing Forward, Personal Development

Good Podcast: Conflict in Teams w/ Diana Mclain Smith

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 02:22:40 Z

I just started Diana Mclain Smith's new book Divide or Conquer- How Great Teams Turn Conflict Into Strength and am loving it. I was happy to see that Wayne over at the Cranky Middle Manager did a podcast with Diana and had to listen: The Cranky Middle Manager Show #148 Conflict in Teams- Diana Mclain Smith.

I highly recommend this book and have just started it. If you're interested in learning more about Diana or her new book detailing the in's and out's of team conflict, check out these resources, including three brief podcasts of her own:

About the book: http://www.dianamclainsmith.com/dmsmith-book-overview.htm
About Diana: http://www.dianamclainsmith.com/dmsmith-bio.htm
Podcasts: http://www.dianamclainsmith.com/dmsmith-podcasts.htm (Why Teams Fail., Why Divide or Conquer?, Why Stronger or Weaker?)

And of course don't forget to check out the Cranky Middle Manager for more excellent podcasts. Others I've enjoyed recently include The Cranky Middle Manager #147 Ken Blanchard Is Here and The Cranky Middle Manager #144 Big Ideas to Big Results- Michael Kanazawa.

posted by Raven Young at Raven's Brain under Leadership
Tags: Leadership, Leadership Blogs, Personal Development, Personal Growth, Conflict

300+ Inspiring Leadership, Management and Personal Development Blogs

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 17:23:48 Z

Earlier this month David Zinger posted a list of 300 bloggers who inspire him - and Raven's Brain was fortunate enough to make the list! One of the things I enjoy about blogging is sharing the many interesting and useful resources I stumble upon in my web travels - and so I share David's list of 300 excellent blogs with a positive focus. Some I've visited and others are new to me. I can't wait to dig through and find out what I've been missing!

Zinger's list: 300 bloggers who inspire me:

And here are a few more leadership, management, business and development blogs that inspire me:

Enjoy!

posted by Raven Young at Raven's Brain under Leadership
Tags: Leadership, Leadership Blogs, Personal Development, Personal Growth, Management Blog

8 Steps for Handling Workplace Confrontations Gracefully

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 02:51:51 Z

Cheri Baker over at The Enlightened Manager has a post with great information on dealing with conflict at work: Eight Steps for Workplace Confrontations. The post outlines easy to follow steps to help you deal with the conflict situation gracefully, and the probing questions also help you think through the process to ensure you're addressing the right problem at the right time for the right reasons. Here's an excerpt:

One of the challenging things about working in a team environment is that there are times when people behave in ways that we find unproductive, offensive, or hurtful. When we ignore these feelings the relationship can suffer as our resentment festers. Yet fear at confronting others can prevent us from taking positive action. Today's post contains a checklist you can use to determine if a confrontation is appropriate, and if so, how to move forward.
Step One: Ask yourself if the "problem" is a pattern or simply a one-time issue. Sometimes we see the people around us behaving poorly in a repetitive way. Sometimes the behavior is a surprise. If the situation you wish to confront someone on is a one-time thing, not a pattern, ask yourself if a confrontation is really necessary. We all have bad days. Don't make a mountain out of a molehill.
Step Two: If you have determined you want to move ahead, ask yourself what your reasoning is. Are you confronting the person because your feelings are hurt? Because you are concerned about them? Because you are concerned about the customer? Chances are you may have multiple motivations. But take the time to get crystal clear about your own motives. Sometimes we "say" that we are confronting someone because we are worried about the project, or the customer, but it is really about our own feelings. Step up and own your own motives.
Read the rest here: http://blog.emergenceconsulting.net/2008/03/eight-steps-for.html?cid=119386496

Definitely worth the read as the realistic and honest approach in the steps force you to think through a conflict situation and allow you to plan your approach and response. Note also that these steps would work well in dealing with personal conflicts as well. Thanks to Cheri for sharing these great tips!

posted by Raven at Raven's Brain under Personal Growth
Tags: Personal Growth, Personal Development, Handling Conflict, Workplace Confrontations

Marshall Goldsmith Video on Managing Up

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 02:20:46 Z

The Harvard Business School Publishing site has a 9 minute video with Marshall Goldsmith, author of the must-read book What Got You Here Won't Get You There. I found the discussion interesting but had trouble viewing the entire embedded video over at 800-CEO-READ Blog. You might try the HBSP site directly if you have trouble with buffering:

How to Influence Up and Become a Future Leader

http://conversationstarter.hbsp.com/2008/06/how_to_influence_up_and_become.html

As I said, interesting and if you haven't read Goldsmith's book, you might want to pick it up or add to your reading list!

posted by Raven Young at Raven's Brain under Leadership
Tags: Leadership, Leadership Books, Marshall Goldsmith, What Got you here won't get you there, Managing Up

Jerry Manas is Managing the Gray Areas

Sat, 14 Jun 2008 18:26:40 Z

As mentioned in an earlier post, I have a forthcoming book review on the e-x-c-e-l-l-e-n-t new management and leadership book Managing the Gray Areas, from author Jerry Manas. It's not your typical leadership book, it's written by a noted PM and leadership guru and is quite interesting. I'm expecting some great insights from guest voice Lisa Forsyth's pending review and am sure many will want to read Gray Areas - it's certainly on my list of must-read leadership books for this year.

If you're already intrigued and want to learn more now - check out Jerry's recent article at PMWorld: How to address the “Gray Areas” ! Tough Questions for Leaders (PDF). Here's an excerpt:

If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end in doubts; but if he will be content to begin with doubts, he shall end in certainties.” - Francis Bacon
Leaders face dilemmas every day. Decisions we make are translated into real-world outcomes, with each decision cascading into other actions. Sometimes, we mentally frame difficult choices and decisions in terms that simplify them—at least on the surface. We turn them into black or white just to get some clarity around them, yet in reality, they are not black or white, not either/or—they are gray.
How we address these difficult choices—as black and white, or as gray—will determine the feel of our organization. It will determine how people interact, and how work gets done. It will determine the strategies of both our present and our future.
Read complete paper in English (PDF)

PMWorld (scroll to bottom) also included some background on Jerry and his book, and I'm always interested in learning more about the folks whose books I read and blogs I follow:

An organizational architect with a specialty in project management and virtual team dynamics, he is passionate about helping leaders create flexible, yet integrated, organizations and teams. Pulling lessons from history, science, and the arts, he writes and consults on principle-based leadership and project management, using the cornerstones of simplicity, engagement, and trust. Jerry is president of The Marengo Group, co-founder of the popular blog site, PMThink! (www.pmthink.com), and a member of The Creating We Collaborative.

Visit his website at www.marengogroup.com.

I received an email this week announcing that the archived Webinar Managing the Gray Areas–Leading with Humanity is now available for viewing. You can access this free and informative Webinar from Jerry Manas here:http://www.rmcproject.com/webinar/webinar-grayareas.aspx. If you're PMP certified you'll be happy to hear this webinar is registered with PMI for one PDU - another easy way to keep your accredication current. And if you're looking to purchase Managing The Gray Areas, check out this great deal:

Also, to purchase the book Managing the Gray Areas at an exclusive Webinar Discount of 40%, please visit the following page:
http://store.rmcproject.com/Detail.bok?no=135
To earn the discount, simply enter the coupon code GRAY40 in the provided field prior to checkout. Also, please feel free to forward this and discount code to any friends, colleagues or co-workers who you believe may be interested.

Project Management Humor: PM Cartoon "Project: Humor - Time"

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 18:19:42 Z

The next project management cartoon in the "Project: Humor" series is below:

Project: Humor - Time

Click for larger image

You may use this image on your site as long as you give proper credit and link back to this post.

Stay tuned for more project management humor from "Project: Humor" and Raven's Brain!

Previous cartoons in the series:

Enjoy!

NOTE: Raven's Brain has MOVED!
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posted by Raven at Raven's Brain under Project Management Humor
Tags: Project Management Humor, Project Management Comic, PM Humor, Project Management Cartoon, Project Management, Project: Humor

Hobbies & Interests

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Random Favorite Quotes

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Online PM Resources: Templates, Articles, Tools, Assessments & more

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Murphy's Laws

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Online Management & Business Tips

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Project Management Books in my library

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Program Management / Engineering Books

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Olive

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2006 - The zoo

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