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Hello Reader, There are problems you can solve with a framework, a course, or a meeting. And then there are the problems where you have a pretty good idea of the lay of the land, you just need someone to think it through with you. Not because you don't know anything about it, but because you've got too much context and you're too close to it to think clearly. You know what the textbook says. You know what you'd probably advise someone else to do. But when it's your project, your stakeholder, your team, your career, it's a different thing entirely. It's helpful to talk to someone who's been in the room before, who gets the politics, who won't tell you to "just communicate more" as if that's a strategy. Someone who can listen to what you're dealing with and help you think it through without either telling you it's fine or immediately suggesting you read a book about it (and who won't tell your boss anything!). I work with project managers on specific situations, career decisions, difficult relationships, scope that won't stay in scope, sponsors who won't engage, whatever it happens to be. If you've been thinking about something for a while, or you've got something on your plate right now that would benefit from a fresh pair of eyes, I work with project managers one-to-one -- people who are navigating something specific and want a thinking partner who understands the profession. Whether it's a difficult stakeholder situation, a career decision, a project that's gone sideways, or just a general sense that you've outgrown your current role and don't know what's next. If that sounds like where you are, I'd love to chat. It's helped other people and could be just what you need. And if you're not quite ready for a one-to-one but want peer support, PM Rebels is there in the meantime. Have a great week! Elizabeth |
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, How does your PMO actually work? I don't mean what it does day to day. I mean where it sits in the organization, how it's set up, and how much say it has over projects. That's your operating model. And it's not the same as your staffing model (full-time, part-time or fractional) or your maturity level. A centralized PMO can be immature. A federated PMO can be highly capable. When you're choosing an operating model, you're really answering two questions, not one: Where does the...
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...