Project Manager Armaments

Written by Shaun H. Ajani


Continued from page 1

It is recommended thatrepparttar forms andrepparttar 106446 tracking styles are purposely made different to avoid confusion, as a lot of information inrepparttar 106447 forms andrepparttar 106448 tracking databases may seem similar. Also,repparttar 106449 numbering system in Issue Control is slightly different. Whenever a defect is not fixed, and moved off to a “holding area” somewhere,repparttar 106450 stakeholders get a little nervous aboutrepparttar 106451 future of that defect. Because of this reason,repparttar 106452 Issue number isrepparttar 106453 same asrepparttar 106454 Defect Number. This is done to avoid ‘misplacing’ any defects.

Cloud Surprise

Okay, I am going to pushrepparttar 106455 envelope a bit here. This is where we become “extreme” and sometimes get into a tiff. But it is worth it. Cloud Surprise is a weapon that is more psychological then functional. But it is incredibly effective every time it is used.

Cloud Surprise is a pretense, which is unleashed onrepparttar 106456 victim to dampened bad news, amplify good news, or simply to color dull news.

It will be interesting to declare how I came up withrepparttar 106457 term, Cloud Surprise. Then you will understandrepparttar 106458 reason for its existence.

A few years ago, I used to fly with a friend of mine, who was quite a daring pilot. Although I avoid roller coasters, I am quite an excitement junkie, when it comes to flying. Cloud Surprise basically entailed us flying straight intorepparttar 106459 clouds fromrepparttar 106460 bottom, till we broke free onrepparttar 106461 other side… All of a sudden being blinded byrepparttar 106462 bright sunlight; or, sharply diving fromrepparttar 106463 top till we broke out fromrepparttar 106464 clouds, and sawrepparttar 106465 ground approaching at a high speed, to fill our view insiderepparttar 106466 cockpit.

Although we knew exactly what lied onrepparttar 106467 other side, it was kind of a surprise to seerepparttar 106468 bright sunshine, orrepparttar 106469 approaching ground. We were so engrossed in speeding throughrepparttar 106470 clouds, and having a strong feeling of anxiety and apprehension that our knowledge of what lied onrepparttar 106471 other side was temporarily forgotten: hence,repparttar 106472 name Cloud Surprise.

I use this weapon when I have to deliver news, whichrepparttar 106473 staff is expecting, but not necessary with great anticipation. For example, when I have to informrepparttar 106474 IT staff that they will have to work on New Year’s Eve to monitorrepparttar 106475 network, I would first indicate to them that they may all have to work a 12 hour shift, maybe even 16. I usually qualify this statement by adding a bit of detail to it, such as advising them to wear comfortable clothes, and to charge their cell phones. Then a few hours beforerepparttar 106476 shift, I will proclaim that they only, in fact, have to be there for a four-hour period, just to monitorrepparttar 106477 change of date. This is usually met with cheers of appreciation! Getrepparttar 106478 idea? Cloud Surprise!

Counter-surveillance

Keep your ears open. There is no need to actually spy on your coworkers. An EPM keeps all issues at a high level, delegating authority torepparttar 106479 appropriate staff members. Hence, small details should be left torepparttar 106480 team leads. However, it does not hurt to be informed. If you spot two people, who are sensitive to your project, having a conversion, casually walk within earshot, and do some simple task, like tying your shoelaces, or pretending to have a conversation with another coworker.

Keep your eyes open too. Carefully check out everything that goes within your range of vision. Documents are very powerful. Many companies go to great lengths to ensure thatrepparttar 106481 right people look atrepparttar 106482 right things. For example, Motorola has a whole methodology on how statuses are assigned torepparttar 106483 documents inrepparttar 106484 hierarchy of privacy, and howrepparttar 106485 employees handle those documents.

In general, be aware of everything that goes around you inrepparttar 106486 organization. This may seem like a frivolous advice. But by trying a bit harder and practicing surveillance techniques, you will have a fantastic advantage overrepparttar 106487 rest ofrepparttar 106488 managers. The use of some of these armaments may sound a bit draconian, but they work. Always remember,repparttar 106489 final objective of an EPM isrepparttar 106490 greatness ofrepparttar 106491 project.

Shaun H. Ajani is the author of books "Extreme Project Management" and “Life Wizard – Advance Life Management". His book, “Soul Management – Magic of Reality” is in the works. He has been published in many national and international magazines. Shaun has worked with aviation, IT, retail, HR, finance, education, and training industries, in companies like Motorola, Washington Mutual, Boise Cascade, and Sears. Shaun Ajani consults as a Certified Project Manager in Chicago at Spherion.


Leverage Your Problem-Solving

Written by Susan Dunn, M.A.


Continued from page 1

When a chill runs down our spine, orrepparttar hair onrepparttar 106445 back of our neck rises, or our palms start to sweat, or we feel queazy, our bodies are giving us valuable information. One way to train people to protect themselves in dangerous working conditions is to make them more aware of their bodily signals and what their intuition is telling them. They need to become barometers--sensitive to pressure and change.

Once consideredrepparttar 106446 province of a gifted few, we now know that everyone possesses intuition. If you invite it into your life and pump uprepparttar 106447 volume, you'll receive some valuable information you need to have for problem-solving.

And how do you know when it's not just fear or wishful thinking? Well, when your intuition tells you to do something, and you're attuned to it, you feel certain. When could you ever say that about facts and figures?

Bring some leverage to your problem-solving--get acquainted with your intuition.

Susan Dunn is a personal and professional development coach, specializing in emotional intelligence. You can visit her on the web at: http://www.susandunn.cc.


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