Category Archives for Personal Effectiveness

This article is published on Christmas Eve, 2018. It seems a good time to focus on two things: project management truths and humor. So, I’d like to combine them in a short, light article. I know some of my readers take time off at this time of year. But others don’t. So, I hope you’ll […]

Productivity. It’s important. We all want it. Yet it has its limitations… So, what is Productivity? Dr Mike Clayton is founder of OnlinePMCourses.com. Here, he answers this question, in under 5 minutes.

Edward de Bono is one of the leading thinkers on thinking and creativity. And, of all his books, ideas, and methodologies, the Six Thinking Hats idea is definitely his best. So, what are the Six Thinking Hats? Dr Mike Clayton is founder of OnlinePMCourses.com. Here, he answers this question, in under 5 minutes.

Gravitas is something every Project Manager should be aiming at. It’s the sense of authority, or substance that leads people to trust your judgement and rely on your advice. And, whilst experience, track record and, frankly, gray hairs contribute to your gravitas, there’s more to it than that. We’ve all met people with plenty of […]

One of the questions project managers most often ask me in training room is about personal time management. They want to know: ‘How can I manage my time, in the busy context of a project?’ For most project managers, we have learned all sorts of tools for managing the project schedule. But, when it comes […]

When you are in a Project Leadership role, you will have a lot to do. As well as managing your project day-to-day, you’re responsible for the people. They look to you for leadership and guidance. But, with so many responsibilities, it can be hard to know what are your leadership priorities? Often, it is the […]

From time to time, every Project Manager will find themselves managing difficult conversations. Because it is an important part of our role. But it’s one we’d rather not have. Then, of course, at the end of a hard day or week at work, you leave work. And again, you will have to face these types of […]

Do you ever find yourself overworked? Is it a little like you are carrying everyone else’s monkeys on your back? Too often, project managers make a deadly mistake. Just four words… ‘Leave it with me.’ So, what is Monkey Management? So, what is Monkey Management? Dr Mike Clayton is founder of OnlinePMCourses.com. Here, he answers this question, […]

Confidence goes a long way to making an effective Project Manager. Because a big part of your job is to inspire confidence in the people around you: your team, your sponsor or client, and your stakeholders. And with confidence comes assertiveness. As a Project Manager, you’ll often need to ‘get your way’ in a courteous […]

‘Alpha Project Managers: What the Top 2% Know that Everyone Else Does Not’ is a far better book than I had expected. So in this article, I’m going to share some of the most important things I learned from it. And I’ll tell you whether you should buy it, depending on where you are in […]