Archive for June, 2010
I recommend this book for several reasons. First, the prints are visually pleasing, for me at least, with large fonts and ample white space. Second, Mr. Lucht’s writing style yields content that is easy to absorb. Third, and the most important reason of them all, John’s advices make sense and work, day after day.
Some people might read the book and point out “So what, those are just common sense stuff.” Well, they are and good advices in life usually do not require specialized academic training just to understand. The challenge, as we all know, is to practice those insights consistently day in and day out. Practicing management is about doing the right things and doing things right on a consistent basis. This book is a great read for everyone, not just for those in the management line of work or aspiring to get into one. I read the book from time to time and continue to get new “insights” every time I read it. I encourage you to check what other had to say about this book.
http://www.amazon.com/Insights-Journey-John-Lucht/dp/0942785312/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1277262909&sr=8-1
I happen to have a couple of the “Insights to the Journey” books to give away. Please post a comment below by 5pm Friday June 25, and you will be entered into the book drawing. Enjoy some summer reading.
June 22nd, 2010
When I first came across Dr. Robert Sutton’s “The No Asshole Rule” book, I was intrigued, not just by the straight-forward title but also Dr. Sutton’s suggestions on how to deal with or prevent workplace incivility. Personally speaking, I had worked for only one boss like that (thank goodness) during the early days of my career, and it was not a good situation. I remembered practicing tactics similar to several of the suggestions outlined in Chapter 5 of the book and just trying to stay out of the flame’s path. That was also a good learning experience for me as I learned to remind myself regularly not falling into similar jerk behaviors once I attained a managerial position.
Book aside, Dr. Sutton also maintains an active blog, which I highly recommend. The blog contains a wealth of information on how to conduct oneself through more effective behaviors. If you are in a managerial position, read the blog and pick up good information on how to be a more effective superior. If you are not in a managerial position, read the blog and practice the civil behaviors so we all contribute to an effective workplace environment. Check out this recent post on the blog and others.
http://bobsutton.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/06/my-job-is-to-hold-the-umbrella-so-the-shit-from-above-doesnt-hit-you-your-job-is-to-keep-me-from-hav.html
I have a couple of the “The No Asshole Rule” books to give away. Please post a comment below by 5pm Friday June 18, and you will be entered into the book drawing. Enjoy some summer reading.
June 15th, 2010
These days, proficiency in project management is no longer considered a luxury or an auxiliary skill for many knowledge workers. Project management competency is also considered a key component as part of many IT organizations’ delivery capability. Whether at a professional or personal level, the project management mentality and the discipline to plan and to execute in our daily lives can often differentiate someone who is effective from someone who plays catch-up all the time due to lack of planning.
When it comes to educating people on the project management topics, The Project Management Podcast hosted by Cornelius Fichtner definitely has a proven track record. Mr. Fichtner has been consistently pumping out quality weekly podcasts since September 2005. The collection of podcasts contains not only helpful how-to on a variety of topics, but also useful insights from many of Cornelius’ interview guests. All these contents put together makes a pretty engaging source of how-to-do-project-management-more-effectively.
The Project Management Podcast can be found at http://project-management-podcast.com/. Head over and begin checking out all of the episodes. Just like the Manager Tools, these podcasts are free and subscribing via iTunes or a podcast manager is highly recommended. While you are at Cornelius’ web site, be sure to check out the helpful Free PM Guide Book and Free PM Term Book under the Resources menu.
There are two other project management podcasts I also listen to. They are The pm411.org Project Management Podcast (http://pm411.org/) and PMO Podcasts (http://thepmopodcast.com). Both series of podcast provide additional information, viewpoints, and insights into the project and program management disciplines. I also recommend checking them out to see whether the topics are appealing to you.
Still want more? Consider joining Project Management Institute (PMI) and one of the local chapters. PMI Los Angeles Chapter (http://pmi-la.org) holds monthly meetings with speakers and a number of seminars and training sessions throughout the year.
June 1st, 2010