Personal Project Management (How-to with Tips from PMs)

Personal Project Management (How-to with Tips from PMs) You need to get something done. You set a date. At some point you actually start working on it.The deadline flies by. Youre still at it.Why did I ever think that deadline was reasonable?And how the hell did this get so expensive!Ever heard of the planning fallacy?Its basically a catch-all term for every mistake possible: underestimated costs and complexity, not accounting for unknowns, and being overly optimistic about external circumstances.Were all guilty.Get this: in an experiment, Americans were asked to evaluate the expected cost of remodeling their kitchens.The average estimate? $18,500.The actual mean cost? Almost $39,000.Try explaining that to your bank!Again, were all guilty, but there are people who seem to always be on top of things. Theyre actually paid for doing just that.Project managers.Do they have superpowers? Are they lucky? No, not at all. They just happen to know some things you dont.And theyre about to teach you those skills. (And, as a bonus, recommend some of t he coolest, easy-to-use productivity apps to help you manage your personal life like a pro.)1Understand why we all suck at planningStep one: realize whats been stopping you so far.In a word: overconfidence.Its best explained by a concept of WYSIATI (What You See Is All There Is) coined by one of the most exceptional psychologists of all time, Nobel Prize winner, Daniel Kahneman (Every project manager I spoke with mentioned this theory).You see, when we make plans, we tend to focus only on the known knownsphenomena weve already seen and can anticipate.What we forget about, though, are:Known unknownsthings we know might happen, but we ignore them because we hope they wont happen (or well fix them later.).Unknown unknownsevents that we dont know about and cannot predict.If what you see is all there is, you better see it all.So2See the BoardEach thing you do actually requires you to do a lot of smaller things. We dont think this way about walking the dog, making tea, or sending an email to accounting.But we dont think this way about more complex projects either.In the search of a solution to that problem, I reached out to Shai Shandil, an Agile/Scrum management coach, and a founder of softsolutions.His answer? See the board.No, this isnt a zen koan He means literally.The easiest way to combat a mounting pile of tasks is to have a physical board that holds all these tasks.Its called a kanban boardand was first used by Taiichi Ohno at Toyota.Shai let us see his board he used for moving home:(Hestotally un-high-tech about it!)Notice two thingsFirst of all, the tasks on Shais list are very specific.For instance, its not clean the house. Instead, its divided into smaller, controllable tasks:Vacuum house, Clean between oven glass, Wipe down kitchen, (already done).Clean shower, Clean drains, Bleach kitchen blinds, Mop house, (to do.)Secondly, all stakeholders (be that your spouse, children, or flatmates) can immediately learn what the status is.Its a BRILLIANT way of st opping nagging because the answers to all How are you going with X? types of questions are so readily available, Shai says.I know what you might be wondering3How much should I break down my tasks?Thats a question many kanban users ask and, ironically, most kanban tutorials rarely answer.For good reason. Theres no one-size-fits-all answer. You need to be agile and learn what works for you.But there are two general guidelines:DependencyOne of the main reasons work gets delayed is the dependency on other people. When breaking up your work, make sure that its clear which item requires someone else to take action.At a given point, the number of external stakeholders your task is waiting for should not exceed two.What if it does?Thats a signal you should break down the task further, into lower-level items that dont rely on that many dependencies.TimeThis factor is much more speculative, but if you need a basic rule of thumb, here it is:The minimum task size is 30 minutes.Aim for a maximum of one workdayfor sanitys sake, you don't want work to spill over to the following day.It will take time and practice to determine what goes on the board. The good thing is, after a few iterations, youll notice things flow smoothly from left to right.Youll see what needs to get done first, do it, and move on to the next task.Plus, once you see movement on the board, youll learn to manage your time to keep things moving. Got a time slot for X? Do X. Not enough time before your date? Do Y.Shai gave another personal example to brilliantly illustrate that:I never iron more than three items at a time. Its less about how much it takes me to get it done. Its more about how much time it takes my wife to get date-ready. All of a sudden, I no longer have to set up an ironing task every week, a saving of an hour for my free time.4A continuous flow of tasksNotice that, in Shais kanban board, theres no backlog column.Thats because kanban management doesnt concern itself with time boxes: work co mes in, gets worked on, and gets finished. Thats it.This approach seemed surprising coming from Shai who specializes in Scruma methodology focused on timeboxed iterations called sprints. But Shai suggested that the simplicity of kanban is usually way more fitting for personal or family needs.Another PM, Leigh Espy, Project Manager at FedEx and owner of ProjectBliss.net shares Shais approach.Three years ago, she encouraged her then 10-year old daughter to start using a simple kanban boardmade from just a whiteboard and Post-It-Notes, with three columns Not Started, Doing, and Done.The simplicity lets my daughter focus on getting the work done and moving the task through the stages of execution very quickly. Having a list of chores to pick from gives her a sense of control, Leigh says.She still has to do the work, but she can determine in what order. And she's formally taken ownership and committed to the task. Once she's finished the work, she moves the task to the Done column and pi cks the next item. This is also helpful for meit lets me know what she's actively working on, she explains.A child-friendly, glorified to-do list? No, its more than that.First of all, we rarely know when well have a bit of free time. The kanban board lets you queue tasks, prioritize them, and get them done when you have an opening.Secondly, committing to using a board will let you see patterns. Youll notice repetitive tasks, identify which ones take longer than expected, and soon youll streamline everyday processes (remember Shais ironing example?).But proper project management is not only about getting things done more efficiently. Its also about working towards an important objective5Whatever you plan, think about the big goalIn the end, we all do things for some grander reason.For someone, as someone.Every Sunday, Scott Perry (a PMP-certified Project Manager by day, and a baseball blogger at CatchersHome.com by night), together with his wife, holds the weekly marriage meeting.The y open up their very analog Moleskine schedulers and go through their plans for the upcoming week.But thats not all.Another thing I do in my personal weekly planning is to integrate a Role Map into my plans. Its a structured blueprint of every role you have in your life (think Employee, Son, Husband, Father, Little League Coach, etc.) that connects you with your weekly plan so that your actions are intentional, not reactive, supporting further development of each role. This way, I can spend time on things that count and not on busy work that doesnt really matter.Ever found yourself elbows deep in something, only to realize youre not getting closer to what you actually want to achieve?Exactly.Busy is a drug. Makes you feel good. But being busy doesnt imply being productive.Always ask yourself: whats the actual outcome of what Im doing? Is there any value in it? Are the steps Im taking bringing me closer to the end goal?Make reality checks a habit. Kanban or no kanban.At the end of th e day, good project management is about making the right choices. You know, the ones that actually pull you closer to the desired outcome.And for the final word... Heres how to boost your efficiency with apps:65 top apps recommended by PMs for increasing your productivity1. OmnifocusAn indispensable daily tool for organizing your home and professional tasks.It allows you to easily group your tasks by priority, complexity, and dependenciesthe time of day, your location, other people, etc.Available for iOS and MacOS users only.2. todoistA super easy way to seat daily and weekly goals and analyze your productivity. Beautiful visualizations will help you notice trends in your productivity. Not to mention Todoist karma points, streaks, and levels which will gamify your life and make you want to chase numbers!(Its also very easy to integrate todoist with your Gmail and Google Calendar.)3. PocketThe easiest way to save cool reads and other stuff you find online. Store them in your Pocket a nd revisit when you have some free timeon your computer or mobile.4. TrelloLove the idea of a kanban board but cant be bothered to set up a physical one?Enter Trello. A straightforward, easily accessible online kanban board you can use on your own or with your family.5. AudibleLast but not least.Reading is a joy, but sometimes you cant really sit down and stare at text. Get your daily dose of literature as you walk your dog or clean the tub.So, what do you think?Enjoyed the PMs tips? Maybe you have your own productivity hacks youd like to share? Drop me a line in the comments, and Ill be sure to get back to you right away. I cant wait to hear your thoughtsLets chat!

Read this if you are looking for an amazing part-time job opportunity University of Manchester Careers Blog

Read this if you are looking for an amazing part-time job opportunity University of Manchester Careers Blog NB: Before applying you are expected to have experienced the Applications Advice service as a client and/or observed a session â€" your experience will form part of the interview.   Contact sarah.mallen@manchester.ac.uk What’s the job? The University of Manchester Careers Service is looking to recruit a number of Applications Advisers for Academic Year 2015-16, working as part of a busy careers team to provide 1-1 advice to students and graduates on their job application techniques. After training, you will provide applications advice to students and graduates during one-to-one appointments.   This includes content and format of their CV, cover letters, application forms, LinkedIn and personal statements for further study. Will there be training? Yes (and paid!) â€" see the full job advert for more details. What are the hours? Hours will vary according to levels of demand from students. Applications Advisers work half days: 9.15-12.45 1-4.30 or full days 9.15-4.30 (with half hour lunch break).  The ability to work flexibly is essential. This role is part-time, initially for the first semester with the possibility of extending into the second semester. What does the job pay? The rate of pay will be £9.11 per hour. Who are you looking for? The post would be particularly appropriate for a postgraduate student or someone who is similarly familiar with the undergraduate career search experience. This position is likely to appeal to someone with an interest in developing a career in human resources, recruitment or advice and guidance. Prior recruitment experience would be an advantage. Essential Knowledge, Skills and Experience: The ability to manage your time and   client expectations A clear understanding of, and the ability to identify with, the undergraduate job search experience A strong commitment to excellent customer service High standard of written and spoken communication skills; including listening skills, the ability to relate to the student and show understanding, persuasion and good written presentation The ability to deal effectively with people, requiring tact, courtesy, empathy and patience An excellent command of the English language How do find I out more and apply? Applications Advisers Vacancy Advert 2015  (PDF) For further details/informal enquiries contact:  Sarah Mallen or Dominic Laing on 0161 275 2828 All Postgrad-highlighted Postgraduate applications jobs Part-time

3 Great Places for Incentive Travel

3 Great Places for Incentive Travel Incentive travel is a trip which someone goes on to get a new skill, as part of a rewards program, or even as a group trip to build morale in your team. There are a few places around the globe that are great for incentive travel, and here are some of the stand out places that you should look at if you decide to plan your own… Morocco Morocco is home to bewildering desert landscapes that are sure to take your breath away as well as culture that is sure to give you a new and better perspective of time. In many of the major cities of Morocco there are local businesses that are dedicated to making your group and incentive travel experiences some of the best you will find in all of Africa. Businesses such as Morocco Like a Local and Lawrence of Morocco have been internationally recognized as having fantastic customer service and can provide a once in a lifetime experience for anyone who books with them. There are many day trips that can be arranged such as an overnight journey to the Sahara desert, to the mountains, or even some of the ancient cities that still stand today as they did hundreds of years ago. This is a great place for a first time business trip as the possibilities are truly endless. Vietnam Going to Vietnam as a group or for a team building incentive travel trip is one of the very best ways to explore Asia in a way that you never have before. Vietnam is loaded with many historical cities, divine cuisine, and adventures that you can take through their native jungles that will both awe inspire your group and open up everyone’s mind. The culture in the Vietnam area is so unique to Asia that there is nothing really to compare it to, and there are also travel agent businesses to help you get everything that you want out of your experience once you arrive as well as great holiday deals for flights and accommodation. In addition to that there are several day trips that can be taken from the main capital city that will give you an opportunity to diversify your itinerary. Brazil There is nothing on this Earth quite like the Amazon and rich colourful culture of Brazil which makes it another ideal candidate for an incentive travel journey or group expedition. The city of Rio de Janeiro is full of things to explore and discover, and there are many resorts in the area that would easily accommodate a large group with the space to do some group activities or work presentations. Or trekking through the Amazon on a group tour is another perfect way to enhance group relationships and see some of the wildest animals out in their natural environment. Brazilian cuisine is some of the finest the South American region has to offer and it is sure to bring a whole new awakening to your taste buds as you dine. Brazil is home to one of the most unique environments that you can travel to, which is why it would make it a fun and great place for some incentive travel.

When Bad Resumes Happen to Good People

When Bad Resumes Happen to Good People If your 401K has dwindled to a 201K and your real estate has gone soft, it’s possible that  the most important thing you own right now is your resume. But if the flow of e-mails into  my office is any indication, the number of people with bad resumes has reached epidemic  proportions. Worse, they don’t understand why I’m not doing back flips to schedule a  meeting. To stop the spread of this viral vitae, I offer these remedies: Less is more. The sole purpose of a resume is to get you an interview, period. It’s not an autobiography.  If you blurt it all out now, why should anyone want to meet you? Rather, think of it as  wrapping paper that will make its recipient eager to tear open the package and see what’s  inside. Once you’ve accomplished that, take a bow and start working on your interview  skills. Report, don’t editorialize. Resist the urge to tell me that you’re a “highly motivated, results-driven, visionary, worldclass  entrepreneur.” May I decide that for myself, after we’ve met and I’ve had time to  consider your multitude of accomplishments? Save the adjectives for a topic other than  you. This might be hard, I know, but it will be far more meaningful if I conclude that  you’re a “seasoned, savvy professional with a distinguished career” than if you announce it  beforehand and I have to hunt for evidence to support your claim. Give people credit for  having a clue and they may just return the compliment. Control your audience’s eye movements and you control the audience. This ancient wisdom comes from Alfred Hitchcock and I urge you to learn from the master.  Get your reader on a short leash with a choke-chain. Oh, did someone tell you those horrid  little bullets will make it easier to scan your resume? That’s exactly why you don’t want to  use them. Shameless self-promotions, garish buzzwords and inventive graphics are as  image-positive as polyester leisure suits…and about as likely to get you a date. Avoid  gimmicks aimed at luring the window shopper inside. If you want to provide a quick and  dirty overview for that ADD reader in your life, write a brief, dignified paragraph and call  it “Expertise” or “Summary.” Put it at the top of the page and get out of there. Just the facts, ma’am. Write the way Jack Webb spoke on Dragnet. Simple, direct statements in government style,  gray flannel prose. No lying, no embellishing. Say what you were genuinely responsible for and don’t merely feature “highlights” or “achievements.” Again, no bullets  â€" they resemble advertising copy. (Think how your filter kicks in when you see media  hype. Same goes for hiring managers and recruiters.) So let it look and sound like…well,  information. Leave out the poetry (together with any other unnecessary words, including  articles and pronouns) and write in clear, journalist declarations that begin with verbs  (“Woke up. Got out of bed. Dragged a comb…”). The number of pages doesn’t matter;  substance does. Tell your story and be done with it. Be realistic. If you’re a dermatologist in Buffalo who wants a job pitching for the Yankees, you’ll need  a wicked slider because even the best resume won’t help. And no, you can’t break down  10 years of accounting experience into core competencies and demonstrate how qualified  you are to become the next CFO at Google, either. By all means say what you’ve done, but  if the dots between that and what you’d like to do can’t be connected, the resume isn’t to  blame. Putting your fantasy on paper won’t make it come true. Ask yourself honestly, “Can I get there from here?” Keep your cash in your pocket…you’ll need it for gas.  Don’t hire a resume writer. Not for $100 and certainly not for $10,000. It’s a waste of  money, honey. Hire a seventh-grade English teacher to help with your composition, if you  need it, but not a pro. Although often well-intentioned and fiercely proud of their so-called  credentials, very few professional resume writers have significant, direct experience  actually placing executives in corporate functions. While you may be impressed by their  aesthetic standards, they simply do not have skin in the game. Follow the leader. Charles Montgomery Burns (The Simpsons), arguably the most successful executive of  both this century and last, has generously made his opus available to the world. See how  it’s done, and done to perfection, right here. What are my qualifications for making all these sweeping generalizations and decrees?  Judge for yourself… I’ll send you my resume when it’s done. Related: Why Your CV is Boring and Ineffective A 25-year veteran of executive search, Mark Jaffe has a reputation for seeing beyond the package and posture of highly accomplished business leaders. He is uncompromisingly direct and focused on his task â€" finding the perfect match for his client. Mark is one of the most frequently quoted talent brokers of the new economy and was named by BusinessWeek as one of the World’s 100 Most Influential Headhunters.  More information about Wyatt Jaffe can be found at:  www.wyattjaffe.com

5 five-minute activities to balance your mental health in January

5 five-minute activities to balance your mental health in January January is the cruellest month. It can feel more like a nightmarish 5-year time prison than a 30-day month. If youre a university student, your first essays and mocks of the academic year are due around now. For good little worker bees, various projects ramp up as the New Year begins to pick up speed. And that to the fact that its freezing and theres only 5 hours of daylight a day, thats a helluva cocktail for bad mental health. Todays Blue Monday and supposedly, thats where its all supposed to come to a head. If youre feeling the weight of your brain right now, it can be hard to take the time you need to balance yourself with so much going on at the same time. Of course, if youre consistently experiencing any kind of mental illness, dont seek quick fixes. You should talk to someone and where possible seek professional help. If you need something more immediate, however, try these five short activities, which can be done separately or in any combination, designed to keep you steady. Meditation       When does anyone have the time to look inwards during a study sesh or on the job? Almost never, but thanks to technology there are plenty of ways to get in a spot of mindfulness on a busy day. Useful apps like Calm, Headspace and Buddhify will help you stay centred and grounded with its wide selection of simple exercises. Walking breaks When its cold and miserable like it often is in January, you have to make a little bit of extra effort to get your Vitamin D. You usually get this from natural light and without it, youll start to feel more tired, confused and weak than usual. The answer? A little outdoor excursion. On your next break, take a short walk outside when the daylight is at its peak. Not only will you get that Vitamin D, but the fresh air and exercise will lift your spirits too. Breathing exercises Breathing exercises are a great way to combat to combat the onset of tension and anxiety. There are several different ones you can do, too. One of our favourites is the 8-4-7 technique; exhale through your mouth to the count of 8, inhale nasally for 4 seconds and hold it for 7. Another is the focused breathing technique, where you take long, deep breaths while maintaining your awareness on the air rushing in and out of your nose. This helps clear your mind of errant stressful thoughts. You can repeat both of these as often as you like throughout the day The Love Blast This is probably going to seem ultra-corny to you, but research from the HeartMath Institute swears by it. The advice they give is a very simple visualisation exercise where you close your eyes and try to picture a good friend, family member or loved one. This will encourage the release of feel-good chemicals called endorphins, which will give you the extra emotional boost you need to keep going. It works for locations too, so when it all gets a bit much, try going to your happy place. Unplug from everything Honestly, if youre feeling overwhelmed, a quick break from your electronics will do you so much good. The glare from screens can be quite harmful to your eyes in long, uninterrupted stretches and all that contributes to your physical and mental fatigue. Aside from that, overuse of social media (which hey, were all guilty of in the office from time to time) can also bring you down a bit. Some time away from everything that pops and pings even if you just sit at your desk and turn away from it should free up a little bit of rental space in that brain of yours. Connect with Debut on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn for more careers insights.

Make the Most of Your Unemployment by Learning

Make the Most of Your Unemployment by Learning What are you doing during this period of unemployment to increase your skills and marketability? Teach yourself new things. Learn new technology. Become better at taking initiative. There is no shortage of information available to you online today. Much of it is F R E E.   With extra time available, make the most of your unemployment by learning new things. You may have noticed job ads requesting skills or technology you dont have. Wouldnt you feel more confident if you possessed some of them? You can. Create a list of things you want/need to learn and check out the following resources for courses to develop new skills. MOOCs MOOC stands for Massive Open Online Courses. Stanford, Harvard, MIT and many other universities have opened up their courses for public consumption. These are the top 3 according to this New York Times article. COURSERA: There are 33 university partners edX:   Collaborative effort between M.I.T. ; Harvard; the University of California at Berkeley; and the University of Texas system UDACITY: No university affiliation but started by a Stanford professor Online Learning Opportunities There are certainly many opportunities available to you for low- or no-cost. Ask around for recommendations. It all depends on what you want/need to learn. Here is a post I wrote with several recommendations for online learning at no-cost. The Rest Is Up To You Chances are, if you have a favorite, go-to source for job search information (or any favorite source), they offer free or low-cost webinars or videos. Just like in the real-world of work, it is up to you to seek out opportunities to learn! Go for it!

How To Write A Successful Resume

How To Write A Successful ResumeIf you are getting ready to write a resume, you want to know what your resume writing style should be. The best resume writing style is one that fits you and your current job situation. Here are some things to think about:Format - Choose the format that fits you best. There are no set rules as to the format that you must use; there are also no hard and fast rules on how long you can use the format in. This decision lies in the message you want to send, not the format. You may find that it would be best to write your resume in columns of bullet points, with a heading indicating the bullet points.The format and the bullet points must not be confused. Some people who have experience with creating resumes usually prefer to use the same format for all of their resumes. Others prefer to experiment with different formatting and use one resume format for all of their resumes.Sentence Structure - Before you begin writing your resume, go over the sentence struct ure and make sure that it is easy to read. It is helpful to have a professional writer review your resume to help you identify any grammatical or spelling errors. Look at the resume examples provided by the company you are looking to work for. You might be surprised to see your sentence structure or grammar mistakes.Proofread - It is not uncommon for many resumes to have many spelling and grammatical errors, but it is also not uncommon for an employer to request a proofread, or to ask for a re-write of the resume before hiring. Even if you consider yourself a great resume writer, you still want to read through the resume several times before you submit it for hiring.Spelling and Grammar Errors - Most employers will ask for a proofread on your resume and/or ask for a re-write before they hire you. If you happen to get someone to proofread your resume, and then read through it after, you might find mistakes in the sentence structure or spelling.Resume Format - This is a large topic, a nd one that vary greatly from job to job. Keep in mind that a good resume is an effective resume, and should have some structure.Resume format are more than just having the correct number of bullet points and the correct spacing. A resume must be well written and understandable, and should be organized, interesting, and easy to read.