The business world loves buzzwords. Consultants and marketers thrive on buzzwords. Google, Twitter and all social channels constantly drill the importance of keywords. Words are the way to stand out or be found in a universe of noise. If we ever wonder…
Project Management Insights: Flailing Projects Can Be Turned Around
It doesn’t have to go down in the books as an epic fail. You’re a solid project manager and have several successes to your name. You know from experience…
Project Management Insights: PM Resolutions for a New Year
We’ve recently completed an interesting and challenging year, and there appears to be resounding energy and positivity to turn the calendar and move…
Project Management Insights: Where Does Project Management Fit into a Strategic Plan?
I was recently working with a 250-person engineering firm, helping them develop a new strategic plan. In the ramp up before the meetings, I sat with leaders and managers across the company, talked to them individually about the future, and listened to their…
Project Management Insights: Managing Remote Teams (Or During a Pandemic)
Depending on where you live and work, there may be a stay-in-place order recently issued by your state or local government. Your firm or office building manager may have closed facilities out of abundance of caution. Whatever the situation, you are more than…
Project Management Insights: Delivering on Brand Is Integral to AEC Marketing and Management
How you deliver projects either supports or hurts your branding. At a rudimentary level, the role of marketing is to create awareness and generate demand for a company’s product or service. The brand is the link to the buying marketplace, and it’s the…
Project Management Insights: Project Management or Else
A contact of mine was considering an administrative assistant position with an engineering firm this summer and wanted my opinion on the job description. She isn’t an engineer but has served in several marketing and support roles throughout her career. The…
Project Management Insights: Don’t Keep Falling for These Project-Management Myths
In an industry that claims innovation and technology are necessary, welcomed and respected, it’s counter-intuitive and unprogressive to hold onto myths—especially regarding project management. Perhaps you or a colleague are steadfast in agreement of the…
Project Management Insights: Setting Goals that Get Results
We are nearing the end of the year, and firms soon will be asking personnel to establish their goals for the new year. Although sometimes tiresome, it is an important exercise—especially for firms that are learning organizations, tie incentive compensation…
Project Management Insights: When Everyone Is a PM, No One Is a PM
About 10 years ago, the #lifegoal in the industry was to become a Principal within one’s engineering or architecture firm. With that position came prestige, owner perks, financial and professional security, and decision-making authority on strategic matters.…
