Monthly Archives: February 2017
Micromanaging: Neither Good nor Evil
To micromanage or not to micromanage: that is not the question. Rather you should ask yourself how each member of your project needs to be managed. And to answer that question, you need to be very aware of the strengths, weaknesses, and personalities of each member of your team. Engaging with members of your team Some people need constant attention and are only effective when they are micromanaged. They need the daily check-in with the positive (or negative) reinforcement that comes with that. Their ability to focus requires they feel…
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How do you know when a Project Manager is not managing a project well?
In previous blog posts we talked about how projects can go off the rails and also how to prevent them from going off the rails. But those only apply if you are actively involved in the project. If you have Project Managers who report to you, what should you be looking for to know when their / your project is having trouble. Key Indicators The big “E” on any Project Management eye chart is always whether the project is on time and on budget. The other issues tend to revolve…
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Superstars: Sometimes you love them, sometimes you hate them
When you are in the medical device space, there is a level of competence and intelligence that you expect from every member of your team. The fact that your team has the ability to design, manufacture, and put a product through FDA testing means they are above average intelligence and capability. With that said, we also know there are some people who excel even among this rarified air. These are people who are smarter and more clever than the rest of us. They see through to a solution immediately while…
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Know your appetite: Avoid overly optimistic expectations
We all know that person who thinks everything will be smooth sailing and there won’t be any problems on a project. The great thing about these team members is that they are positive about the project and bring upbeat energy. However, balancing a team out with people who recognize there will be hurdles and obstacles to overcome is useful. These realists should help hold the team accountable. Identifying your project teams As a project manager, you need to identify which team members are optimistic and pessimistic. If someone is predicting…
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