Optiservation

By / January 23, 2023

Optiservation

Optimism + Observation = Optiservation

 

It is the point of a project where you take a step back, look at all the progress you’ve made, acknowledge the lessons learned, appreciate the hurdles overcome, and strategize for the next steps.

 

It is a critical practice of mine. It is undeniable that I remain a forever optimist, but I’d like to think that I challenge that with practical observations. While I will also wish and work towards the positive, that just isn’t reality. Often because most factors are not in my control.

 

What I like about optiservation is this pause to soak in the success but analyze the actionable, reasonable, tasks that require attention. Reward the hard work, but remind yourself you are not done yet. You have a ways to go on the journey of continuous improvement. The moment I have nothing left to learn and improve on I’m six feet under.

The Patterns

By / January 19, 2023

The Patterns

Looks for the patterns. Find the impact. Remove the waste.

 

As leaders and innovators, we can identify patterns. Ones that we subject ourselves to as well, as those we observe from others.

 

Evaluate these patterns and move forward accordingly.

Nice To Say

By / January 19, 2023

Nice To Say

If you don’t have something nice to say, learn more. 

 

It is possible you are jumping to conclusions. 

 

Take the time to investigate why a reasonable, rational person would make that decision.

PMP – Support Team Performance

By / January 19, 2023

PMP 1.3 - Support Team Performance

The Project Management Institute breaks down their body of knowledge into Domains, Tasks, and Enablers. Domain is the high level knowledge area essential to the practice, Task is the underlying responsibilities of the project manager in that domain, and Enablers are illustrative examples of the work associated to the task. 

 

 

Support Team Performance is the third task under the PMI’s first Domain, “People”. Again, the Project Manager can often find themselves in a position of all the ability, none of the authority. How are we supposed to appraise team member performance? Evaluate growth opportunities. Verify performance?

 

The answer is simple. We set the example. We meet our goals. We conduct ourselves accordingly. We hold crucial conversations with our teams we see patterns emerge that aren’t taking us where we need to go. We applaud our team when they embody what is required. A project manager is not just a note-taker, calendar planner, or pawn. They are servant leaders bringing a team of qualified resources along a journey of creating impactful change.

 

People Domain

Task 3 – Support Team Performance

  • Appraise team member performance against key performance indicators
  • Support and recognize team member growth and development
  • Determine appropriate feedback approach
  • Verify performance improvements
 
For more go here.

Simon Sinek & Chat GPT – Project Management

By / January 17, 2023

Simon Sinek & Chat GPT - Project Management

Prompt: In the voice of Simon Sinek, talk about project management

 

Response: Project management is about setting a goal, creating a plan of action, and leading a team of people to get there. It is about setting the right expectations, understanding the context, and having the courage to make hard decisions. It is about creating an environment where people can work together to do something that has never been done before. It is about bringing people from different backgrounds, different perspectives and different skillsets together to create something truly remarkable.

 

Grammarly Score: 92

 

Reaction: I’d argue that this was an exceptionally executed response. The prompt was simple, direct, and vague. We ended up with a high level, empowering message about project management, one that you would expect from Simon Sinek. 

For more on Chat GPT click here (the response)

For more on Grammarly click here (the score)

For more on Simon Sinek click here (the thought leader)

Be Willing To Fail

By / January 18, 2023

Be Willing To Fail

Be willing to fail. It means you’ve pushed yourself far enough to discover an area of opportunity. 

 
Many call this failing forward.
 
Be daring enough to fail forward and trail blaze.

Millionaire

By / January 16, 2023

Millionaire

“When most people say they want to be a millionaire, what they might actually mean is ‘I’d like to spend money a million dollars.’ And that is literally the opposite of being a millionaire.”

– Morgan Housel

Take What You Want

By / January 16, 2023

Take What You Want

Throughout your life and career, you’ll meet all sorts of people. They will all have various levels of background, experience, personality, and characteristics. As you are working on the person you want to become it’s helpful to remind yourself that there have been people who have already done this and you can learn from them. 

 

You don’t need to be an imitation, but you can take what you want. 

 

That doctor has impeccable recall and note-taking ability but lacks empathy. Take some of the note-taking skills and leave behind his approach to empathy. 

 

The professor who has the best interest of their students and makes you believe in yourself, but works 18-hour days. Take some of that inspiration and motivation, but perhaps ignore the work-life balance traits. Or take them as a cautionary tale. 

 

It’s a non-revolutionary approach, but important to be reminded of. Take what you want from each person and interaction that helps you grow and evolve, leave what holds you back. 

Chosen Wisely

By / January 16, 2023

Chosen Wisely

Whether it is ChatGPT or the questions that you ask others, better word selection leads to better outcomes.

 

When you’re trying to find your next move, ask yourself an interesting question that requires an interesting answer.

 

When you’re leveraging AI for an email campaign, instruct the style that meshes with your own.

 

When you’re searching for answers to a conflict, chose tentative, fact-based questions that keep things safe and lead to resolution.

 

When our words are chosen wisely, we make it easier for ourselves, and others, down the road.

Devil’s Advocate

By / January 23, 2023

Devil's Advocate

Be your own Devil’s Advocate. 


Plenty of people are going to criticize and nitpick your work whether it’s welcomed or not. 


Do yourself a favor and challenge your ideas, optimism, and solutions. What if you’re wrong? What if you’re missing something? What about this particular set of circumstances?


When you prepare thoughts around potential weak points and challenges in your work beforehand you demonstrate many favorable characteristics, but the most notable is thoughtfulness. And that rarely goes unrecognized.  


Additionally, being your own Devil’s Advocate helps the positive thinking, rose-colored lens living individuals remind themselves of practical outcomes. For more on practical optimism click here.