I help project professionals get more done with less stress. Having been a project manager for over 20 years, I share tried-and-tested tips that work in the real world, every Tuesday. Join our community of over 15,000 project professionals (and accidental project managers too!).
New project, unfamiliar territory? Here’s what to say in meetings
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Hello Reader, One of the things that comes up often with new members of Project Management Rebels is how to facilitate a project meeting without knowing anything about what anyone else is talking about. Especially at the beginning, you’re not an expert. So you have very little to contribute in terms of content or helpful insights. What you can do is own the job you actually have and facilitate the process. Think about how you can add value with your comments without simply agreeing. You can add value through facilitating the process of the meeting: “To summarise your point, if I’ve understood it correctly…” “That’s a great idea. Is there anyone else we need to tell about that?” “Who else would benefit from being involved?” “I agree. Sounds like it would be something we’d need to involve X with/put on the Y list/talk about in next month’s Z meeting. Who can do that?” “That sounds like an action/risk for the minutes/risk log. How do you want me to record it?” “We’ve only got 10 minutes left and we haven’t had a chance to talk about X yet.” “It looked like X had something to say. Do you want to come in at this point?” You can also volunteer for actions, if they are relevant and would be coming to you anyway. Speak up about them before someone assigns them to you. It makes you look proactive and helpful! If you’re picking up new projects outside your comfort zone, keep this list until you need it 😊 For more quick tips, check out my 30 Days of Project Management Lessons Learned videos on YouTube. I'm on Day 20-something so subscribe to watch the last few! Have a lovely week! Elizabeth Check these out: |
Calling all Rebel Project Managers!
I help project professionals get more done with less stress. Having been a project manager for over 20 years, I share tried-and-tested tips that work in the real world, every Tuesday. Join our community of over 15,000 project professionals (and accidental project managers too!).
Hello Reader, You know when you meet someone and they’ve got the same approach to work as you and you just click? That’s me and Elise Stevens. We don’t catch up often because of the time difference between the UK and Australia, but we have spoken a few times and the last time… well, we recorded it for her podcast, Futureproof Your Career. We talk all about... How a “two-week look ahead” can help you plan the rest of your life around when you will be most busy Why it’s important to adjust your...
Hello Reader, I can’t believe that we are already on the countdown to the end of the year! There is still so much I want to do and so few weeks to achieve it in. Here are 3 things that I’m going to focus on next month, and I thought you might like to join me: 1. Hosting better meetings Recently I’ve had a few meetings with poor attendance and a couple where I took ages to get the minutes out. I know that’s bad practice, it’s just to do with having more priority things to do instead (for the...
Hello Reader, I can’t believe that we are already on the countdown to the end of the year! There is still so much I want to do and so few weeks to achieve it in. Here are 3 things that I’m going to focus on next month, and I thought you might like to join me: 1. Hosting better meetings Recently I’ve had a few meetings with poor attendance and a couple where I took ages to get the minutes out. I know that’s bad practice, it’s just to do with having more priority things to do instead (for the...