Managing employees is an ongoing process, and good managers never stop learning. Here are some tips to help you spot trouble and learn to stop your micromanaging tendencies before they have a chance to take hold.
Author Archive
» Cheerleading Your Project Pipeline – Sponsors
Earlier we covered how to maintain enthusiasm for early-stage projects within your PMO, but what about finding the sponsors that every project needs? Without them, your project is unlikely to have enough support for final approval.
» Cheerleading Your Project Pipeline – Team Members
Rallying support within your PMO for early-stage projects can sometimes be difficult. Early-stage projects can either look like prime opportunities for growth or career disasters in the making—it all depends on how the organization as a whole views unapproved projects and what steps the PMO takes to ensure that every project offers a chance for success. We’ve put together some tips to keep your team jazzed about the projects coming down the pipeline.
» Delegation 101
Delegating tasks is an important way for you to balance your group’s workload while also helping team members to grow. But farming out responsibilities can be a daunting task by itself. We’ve put together some principles to help you get the best results from delegating within your PMO.
» Managing Your Project Pipeline – Assigning Resources
Assigning resources to projects that haven’t yet received formal approval is a somewhat controversial (or at the very least murky) topic in many organizations. Who pays for work done prior to approval? What’s the fate of assigned PMs if the project doesn’t get approved? How can your team dedicate time to a tentative project when they’re already swamped? We’ve put together a few tips to help you successfully navigate early-stage projects.
» Be a Better Communicator
Good communication is the foundation that keeps your team moving forward. But as our communication options expand, our ability to match the method to the need sometimes becomes fuzzy. Here we’ve outlined the top 3 communication methods, along with dos and don’ts for each.
» PMO Spring Cleaning – Part 2
Now that you’re in organizing mode, plan some time to tackle these other important housekeeping items that will help keep your team productive and efficient.
» PMO Spring Cleaning
It isn’t quite spring yet, but the first quarter of the year often brings new budgets, updated staffing plans, and lists of recently approved projects for PMOs to tackle. Take the time now to clear out any old business, and your team will be ready to focus on the new stuff coming their way.
» 6 Ways to Protect Your PMO from Poaching
One pitfall of managing a high-functioning PMO is that there’s always someone who’d like to snatch away your best performers. How can you maintain a commitment to your team? We’ve put together a handful of tips to keep the grass on your side of the fence looking greener.
» How Transparent is Your PMO?
Today’s PMOs are expected to be transparent—providing clear, objective data on forecasts, plans, and other project metrics—while simultaneously protecting what could be some very sensitive data, often in the form of competitive intelligence, long-range financial models, and the like. How do you successfully manage these frequently competing interests? Below are some guidelines to help you juggle the need to know with the need for confidentiality.