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!).
The steps for decision making
|
Hello Reader, Do you ever find yourself stuck between a rock and hard place, unable to decide what the best course of action is? I have. Whether it’s what desk to put in our new conservatory space, or who to invite to meetings, or managing to order everyone else’s food and then getting so overwhelmed with having made decisions all day for all the people that I couldn’t choose anything for myself. I left the café with nothing for me and ended up with a couple of slices of peanut butter toast at home. Making decisions can be difficult for even the most experienced project managers. But before making any decision, it’s important to understand the difference between problem solving and decision making. Problem solving involves diagnosing issues that arise during projects while decision making requires taking appropriate steps based on those diagnoses. While they may appear similar at first glance, there are key differences in how each process should be approached – understanding these differences will help you make more informed decisions! I've written more about how to solve problems and make decisions in this article, and you'll also find out which desk we chose for the conservatory! Have a great week! Elizabeth, If you're heading into summer with a view to using the light evenings to study, here are a few resources to look into:
|
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!).
Sponsored content: this email is brought to you by Software Advice. 2026 Pricing Guide What does project management software really cost? A practical look at pricing models, cost ranges, and the fees nobody mentions up front. Hello Reader, If you have ever been asked to pick a project management tool, or defend the one you already use, you know the hardest part is rarely the features. It is the price. Plans are tiered, per-seat, or billed in ways that only make sense after you have signed up....
Hello Reader, I believe that some of the old comms tools aren't good enough any more. Take the communication matrix. It's a classic tool where you list out the stakeholder group, what information they need, what format you are going to provide it in, the frequency of update and the owner. Nothing is inherently wrong with it, but it describes the production and distribution of communication, not communication effectiveness. Shouldn't we be asking instead: What does the audience need to...
Hello Reader, What's the point of a gate review? It's easy to let one blur into just another status meeting on the calendar. A gate review is a control point: a go or no-go decision on whether the project should continue. It's a formal governance step, not a progress update. At a normal status meeting, you're reporting how things are going. At a gate review, the reviewers should be working from agreed criteria and evidence, and actually deciding whether the project carries on, pauses or...