Project Management Insights

The Difference Between a Business Plan and a Business Case

04 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

People often confuse a Business Plan with a Business Case. Let me explain the difference in these two documents and remember that you need a business ...

Is a Change In BAU a Project?

25 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Is a change in BAU a project was a question that I was asked via my website some time ago. It's a topic I have a strong opinion about, and in this epi...

More On Remote Team Management

18 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Back on November 27, 2018, I recorded an episode on Remote Team Management. Go back and have a listen to that episode to gain some valuable tips. Litt...

What To Do If a Critical Risk Materializes

11 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Don't panic! :) The reason I want to talk to you about this topic is that it could happen on your project and what I want is for you to feel confident...

Ways To Manage Feeling Ignorant

04 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

You probably realize there are things you don't know. And, maybe you don't. It is not fun when you are in a situation where all of sudden what you don...

How Many Red Groups Do You Have On Your Project Team

28 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

I want you to draw yourself a map of the groups that you will need to engage with for your project. Then consider, in terms of delivery, is each group...

How Your Business Is Wasting Money on Projects ?

21 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Here are four ways that money is being wasted on a project and most lead back to that problem of not having a clearly defined business case or require...

Stop Managing and Start Leading Your Team - Shift Your Focus

14 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Where you focus your attention is the difference between managing and leading. If you want to be a leader it is time to look up and trust, delegate an...

How To Set Your Project Team Up For Success In 2021

07 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Start 2021 with a project review to health check where you are at on your project journey. Then take the time to revive team spirit and get everyone e...

4 Reasons Why You Need a Meeting Agenda

19 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We often see meeting agenda's as a waste of time. Here are four reasons why one is valuable and it's not for the reasons that you probably think. Let ...

Ways To Keep a Key Resource On Your Project

12 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We don't acknowledge and appreciate our key resources enough, in my opinion. We only appreciate them when they are gone, or not they're working on our...

4 Keys To a Successful Project Kickoff Meeting

05 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Firstly I want to ask you if you currently run a Project Kickoff Meeting? If you don't then here are the reasons why it's valuable to do so. If you do...

A Project Is A Business Risk

01 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Have you considered that undertaking ANY project is a big risk to the project and therefore what you do, as a Project Manager, is business risk mitiga...

Do You Have the Right Amount Of Conflict On Your Project?

24 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Did you know there is a 'right' amount of conflict to have on a team to make it work effectively? Too much and it doesn't work. Too little and there's...

Are You Setting Your Project Up For Success?

23 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

I am guessing you are looking at what a project is from the wrong angle and therefore only setting it up for failure? Why am I saying this, because mo...

How Would You Deal With a Very Difficult Sponsor?

04 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Often we can have a Project Sponsor that wants everything or wants to control everything. Or maybe they are difficult by not being engaged AT ALL. In ...

How Do You Best Manage Your Project Pipeline

28 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

You may, or may not, have a formal project pipeline. That's okay. Let's look at the best way to manage to have any new project just dropped on you, wh...

Are You Scared Your Project Will Fail?

14 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Do you fear failure, even before you have started your project?  Perhaps you notice that your fear arises during your project work? Fear doesn't ...

Do You Trust Your Teams Work Output?

07 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We've shifted from the space of seeing people in the office to having them work remotely.  Do you trust that they are working and doing what they...

3 Ways To Include Everyone In Virtual Meetings

01 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Just as with normal face to face meetings you will find that people don't always interact and engage when you want them too.  It is, of course, m...

4 Tips For Better Team Management

23 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

There are four key things that will make a difference in how your TEAM performs and engages to get the work done for you on your project. In this epis...

How To Boost Morale During the COVID-19 Virus

17 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Life might not be easy right now, either for you or your team. Let's talk about what's likely to be causing stress and how you can work with that. And...

Tips For Managing Your Project Team During COVID-19

26 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

With the onset of COVID-19 the way we work has shifted. It's time to shift your thinking about connection and teamwork. Here are ideas for ramping up ...

Learn To Uncover Unspoken Assumptions To Create Clarity

19 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Unspoken assumptions are the things that make problems bigger, issues become risks and risks to materialize. So, learn how to ask the questions to unc...

What To Do When You Think You Have No Authority

12 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

It's not a great space to be in as a Project Manager, feeling as though you have no authority. I would question whether it's really authority you need...

Connection Is the Key To Great Teamwork

05 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

You might not have realized that when people feel connected and appreciated they produce more work than when they don't. On today's episode, I talk to...

Do You Have All These Leadership Skills?

28 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Often times we step into the role of being a Project Manager with little to no other experience in managing people. We might think that being a projec...

Important Pieces for Project Setup and Success

20 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Let's talk about those things that make the real difference to your success and they aren't during project implementation necessarily. Antonio Nieto-R...

Don't Let Vendors Sell You a Project Solution

13 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Too often I see vendors selling the business a solution to their problem before a Business Case or Business Requirements have been developed. This spe...

Is Corporate Politics Endangering Your Project?

07 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode George Freeman III and I talk corporate politics. You'll learn how to work with the politics to make it work for your project. Don't b...

Ways To Create A Better Project Team Culture

30 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

John Sheridan, author of 'The Perfect Business' discusses project culture with me in this episode. How it forms and the five ways to make the culture ...

Benefits Realization Is For Finance Only, Let's Talk Value

24 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

When you write a Business Case you are asked to show the 'Benefits' to be realized from undertaking the project. Why? Because that's what works for fi...

Why Rush Projects?

16 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

There is no legitimate reason to rush a project. There may be reasons for needing a specific timeframe, and this still needs to be clear. The more 'ru...

Using Technology To Manage Your Project Isn't Enough

12 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Sure, it's great to have the technology available to support you in capturing ideas and providing information to your team, but don't forget the value...

What Is A Project?

03 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

My belief is that we don't look at a project as something that is set up to manage change and this is what creates difficulties. If we ground ourselve...

How Committed Are You and Your Team To Your Project

28 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

I know it's a crazy question and yet I'm going to guess that at least some of your project team aren't fully committed to the project. How do I know t...

How Do You Solve Your Project Problems?

21 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

You may not think about the people around you, or that you know who could help you solve any major problem on your project that you haven't faced befo...

Don't Start a Project For the Wrong Reason

14 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Do you notice that a number of projects in your business/organization are started because someone has a budget to spend and someone else comes up with...

Does Project Size Matter?

07 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Does it matter how large or small your project is in relation to how you manage it, or what it means to manage it? My opinion is no, it doesn't. Argue...

Does Culture Affect Project Team Performance?

24 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The answer is ABSOLUTELY because the culture is the way that a TEAM engages and interacts with each other. Unless there are strong open, honest and tr...

What Should the Relationship Between PM and Project Sponsor Be?

17 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

What should the relationship between the Project Manager and the Project Sponsor be like? It would say it needs to have trust, honesty, openness and c...

Do You Need Clearly Defined Roles on a Project Team?

10 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

My answer is No! What is more important is making sure that expectations and assumptions are spelt out so everyone knows what is required of them to h...

Why You Should Engage Your Stakeholders Early

03 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Not engaging your stakeholders as you begin building your Business Case is going to cause your problems. Forget waiting until you are in full Project ...

Are You Politically Aware?

26 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Do you understand what's happening when people are being political? Do you even notice when this is happening? Let's talk about why people are politic...

7 Tips For Setting Up the Perfect Project Schedule

19 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

These seven tips will help you to put together a project schedule that is easy to work with and monitor. It's all about engaging the team and getting ...

Do You Know How the Words You Use Impact Team Output?

12 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Have you considered the impact of your words or the language that you use in your interaction with others? Your language not only says a lot about you...

Why Everyone Is Not On the Same Page As You and How To Get Them There

05 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Do you notice people are just don't have the same level of understanding about the project as you do? There are reasons for that. Mark Steele talks to...

5 Ways a Gantt Chart Can Help You Manage Your Project

29 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

I think we all underestimate the value of using a Gantt chart for our project. I know I've struggled when I've used Excel to set up a project schedule...

Stop Needing To Be Right All the Time

22 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Needing to be right all the time gets you nowhere. People won't respond to you and give you what you want, no matter what you think. It's only when yo...

How To Get the Best From Each Team Member

15 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Each and every team member you have has their own personality, their own way of working. Sometimes that might conflict with the way you work, other ti...

Negotiating Isn't About Winning or Losing

08 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Maybe like me, you thought negotiating was all about them winning and you losing. I'm here to tell you that's not the case. There is a formula to nego...

Stop Focusing On Budget Timelines and Scope

01 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

You are spending too much time focusing on Budget, Scope and Timeline when the key to delivering a successful project is focusing on the people. That'...

The Top Skill You Need To Be a Good Leader

25 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

What do you think that skill is? For me, you can't be a good leader if you haven't mastered this skill. And yes, being a leader is all about having ce...

Why Do Projects Fail?

18 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Why do you think projects fail? I'm sure your answer will be that it's about timelines not being met, or things costing more than they should. Is that...

Your Ego Is Getting In the Way of Teamwork

11 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Do you have so much confirmation bias that you aren't open to exploring any possibilities put forward by your team? That is one way to set your projec...

Accountability Versus Predictability. The Key To Team Success

04 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

You understand predictable but do you understand the connection to accountability? In this episode, we start our discussion with what accountability i...

Do You Know What It Takes To Be A Better Leader?

28 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Do you know what it takes to be a leader? In this conversation with Jason Scott we talk about leadership versus being in charge and managing. It takes...

How To Respond When Thing Don't Go As Planned

28 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

How do you respond to the unexpected? Building a schedule or project plan doesn't mean everything is going to run just as it should. In today's episod...

How To Be More Confident With the Decisions You Make

14 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Are you confident with the decisions you make or do you often rush them? Then regret your choice afterwards. Here are tips and ideas on how to be more...

Create A Win Win Situation By Rewarding Your Team Often

14 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Reward and recognition are the two biggest motivators for people. Rewarding others creates a win/win situation. They receive recognition or reward and...

Strengthen Your Influencing Skills To Feel Confident In Any Situation

30 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Influencing is something we do on a near-daily basis. It's a key part of our role as a Project Manager. Let's explore some ways you can strengthen YOU...

How To Deal With Disagreements On Your Team

23 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

There are always disagreements on a project. Whether it's between you and team members or between teams themselves. Here's the best way to handle disa...

Why You Need To Pay Attention To Assumptions

16 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

I'm sure you have a lot of assumptions regarding things on your project. Are they good to have? Or, bad to have? This week we explore how valuable the...

What Project Scope Is and Why You Need To Define It Clearly - A Key Success Tip

09 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Project scope is one of the things you are supposed to manage as a Project Manager. Do you really understand WHY it is so important? And even more imp...

Focus On People Not Scope For Project Success

02 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Hands up if you think managing a project is about scope, schedule and budget? You're wrong and your focus is in the wrong place. In this episode I'll ...

3 Reasons You Have Schedule Problems

25 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

We all know how important our schedule is to successful project delivery. Here are 3 key reasons your schedule may be off track. Three simple things t...

Stop Being a Project Manager All the Time

18 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Do you stay in Project Manager mode when you go home to your partner or family? Today my special guest, Sunni VonMutius and I dive into this subject. ...

Are You Being Undermined By Someone On Your Team?

11 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Nothing like feeling undermined to create tension on your project. Here are some ways to approach this differently.

Your Change Manager Is Not Your Adversary

04 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Your Change Manager is NOT your adversary. They are there to support you to achieve the desired benefits for your project. Work with them, not against...

How to Manage Unhappy External Stakeholders

28 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Sometimes your external stakeholders aren't happy (your vendors or customers) so here are some ways to turn the relationship relationship around when ...

3 Ways to Manage Your Stakeholder Relationships

21 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Stakeholder relationships can sometimes be tricky to manage, so here are three tips to make that job easy. The key is to finding out what your stakeho...

5 Ways to Build Strong Relationships with Stream Leads

14 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Here are five ways to strengthen the relationship you have with your Stream Leads. Doing these five things will certainly go a long way to improving y...

7 Signs of a Poorly Managed Project

07 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Sometimes there are signs that a project is not being well managed. Here are the 7 things that I've noticed. Here is an opportunity to check in and se...

3 Ways to Lower Your Stress Levels

04 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

As a Project Manager stress is one of the common things you experience, right? Here are three ways that you can support yourself and lower your stress...

Don't Create a Budget Just To Get a Job Managing a Project

19 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Did you create the project budget in your business case, just so you'll get the job? And yes, it does happen. Maybe not all that often and yet when yo...

How To Handle Unrealistic Project Time Frames

12 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Let's talk about the best way to handle unrealistic time frames, both from what you need and how to educate and get the truth from your stakeholder. A...

3 Warning Signs Your Project Is Off Track

05 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

There are warning signs that your project is heading off track, some obvious, some not so. Let's talk about those warning signs and what you can do to...

How Is Your Relationship With Your Project Business Owner?

29 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

One of the key relationships any Project Manager has is with the Business Owner of the project.  They are the person that you will deliver the co...

What To Do When You Lose a Key Project Resource

24 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Losing a key resource or resources off your project will have a big impact. What can you do and how urgently? Be clear on the impact on your delivery ...

Are You a Project Manager That Dumps And Runs At the End Of A Project

17 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Do you dump and run at the end of a project? In your mind, the project ends when the delivery is completed. You forget about handover to BAU. You don'...

What Project Success Looks Like

10 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Often we think we know what project success looks like and yet that isn't always correct. It is important to understand what success looks like for yo...

Your Business Case Sucks

18 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Here are eight reasons why I can openly say to you 'Your Business Case Sucks.' If you are willing to look at each of these eight reasons with an open ...

Stop Scheduling Hour Long Meetings

14 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Yes, you do it, don't you? You schedule meetings for an hour. Can you honestly say that having a meeting for an hour accomplishes all that you hoped i...

How Clear is Your Messaging to Your Team

04 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We often THINK that we are clear with the messages we provide and yet we find we don't get what we want, or people ignore us. Let's look at the proble...

Tips For Working With Remote Teams

27 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Let's talk about some of the issues you may encounter working with remote teams. These teams may be in another country, or simply another office in an...

How To Manage Conflict Between BAU and Project Work

19 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Do you have people working on your project who also have a BAU role? Do you have difficulties getting them to commit time to your project? Let's talk ...

Stop! Prioritize What You Do. It Will Save You Time

31 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Are you prioritizing what you do? If you're not then you aren't working as efficiently as you could be AND you are likely worrying and stressing about...

How to Work With Your Project Management Office (PMO)

15 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Here are some tips on ways to work WITH your PMO to get the best support you can from them. There can be benefits of having them support you with your...

Benefits Of Working With Your Project Management Office (PMO)

09 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Do you have a Project Management Office (PMO)? Let's talk about the benefits of working WITH the PMO even though you may think they are of no value to...

Are You Liked By Your Project Team?

01 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

How do your project team feel about you? Do they like you, or dislike you? What signs are there of who likes you and who doesn't and how do you manage...

How To Manage Your Anger When Something Goes Wrong

24 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Do you notice how you get angry at times when someone doesn't deliver, doesn't do what they say they would? Here is a way to be more productive by und...

What Project Management Isn't

17 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Project Management isn't about managing something. Most people that decide to become Project Managers want to manage the delivery of work. Funnily eno...

How to Effectively Manage Your Inbox

10 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We all know how overwhelming an Inbox full of emails is when we are already under pressure. Let's talk about ways you can manage those messages to mak...

5 Mistakes You're Making When Writing a Business Case

04 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Here are 5 key mistakes that you may be making when you write your Business Case that make the difference between setting your project up for success,...

How To Tell If People Are Listening To You

31 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Are there people in your meetings who are doodling on paper, or drawing, while you are speaking? Do you have participants who are very quiet and don't...

5 Traits Your Team Will Want To See From You

27 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Have you thought about the traits that would have people want to work with you, on your team? Here are 5 key traits that make the difference. If you s...

Create Conflict To Manage The Controllers On Your Team

22 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

If you work with 'Control Freaks' you might be aware that they avoid conflict. My suggestion is to create some conflict to shift the way they interact...

Are You Respecting The Introverts On Your Team

20 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

People that are quiet are often labelled as introverts. These people have a lot of valuable skills if you are open to respecting the way they operate....

How To Be Rational When Things Go Wrong

13 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

When things go wrong it is natural to be emotional and get angry, and blame others. Here is a look at why this isn't of value to you or the team and h...

Why You MUST Have a Business Case Before You Start a Project

30 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

No business case, no project. It is the only way to ensure successful delivery of the change that the business requires. Let's explore WHY it is a mus...