Large enterprise projects can be daunting and seem insurmountable at times, but we all know that that is not true. It is not true as they have been done before and if others have completed them successfully, who says that you won’t be able to do the same. And when going gets tough, breathe and remind yourself of these four …
How to present ideas successfully
First concept to understand and keep in mind is that there are no functional projects or ideas. They all must contribute to the overall business success and should always be presented and implemented in that way. Additionally, you must know your audience; establish trust, familiarity and context with those you are presenting/pitching to and show them data (simple and visually …
Delegating work and responsibilities
You have heard people speak of the importance of delegating work and responsibilities, but you still question its merit and value. You don’t know whether it is the right thing for you to do as you want to be in control and trust yourself the most (maybe even, only yourself?). Let me begin by stating that trusting yourself is extremely …
Benefits of writing well
One of many valuable skills most of us will need in life, in our professional lives in particular is the ability to write well. Being able to write well will help you get your ideas across, secure buy-in and achieve the following with your reader/supervisor/client (whoever your intended audience may be): Get their attention Share your vision Spark imagination Demonstrate …
Create experiences that matter
As you embark on new projects and consider introducing new services or products make sure to include your end clients and ideally start with them. Whether it is an internal or an external project it is important to understand the needs of your clients, partners, the business as a whole prior to proceeding. As you meet with people who are …
Under promise, over deliver
Be honest and set realistic expectations considering the scope, resources, budget and time frame of the project. It’s is always better to exceed your clients’ expectations than to not have met them at all.
When the answer is no, provide alternatives
We have all been there, at times, you just have to say no. What happens next matters a lot more as it is up to you to understand the need at hand and provide valuable alternative solutions. If an organizational need (no matter how small it may seem to you at first) is not being addressed take a leadership role …
Know what your project needs
Recently I came across several project proposals where I was asked to evaluate technical components (hardware, software and staffing needs) and found a few items worth sharing. Several items in these proposals weren’t adequately priced (difference from list and actual price on select items was as high as 60%). Furthermore, some hardware models have been discontinued years ago. While certain …
Our trusty SNAP Server
Today starts a week (spring break for all but professional staff) of catching up on our own internal, departmental projects and priorities and one of the first things I started is a fresh reformat of our old trusty SNAP server. We had it for many years and have decided to re purpose it for software and tools management and in …