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Is the mystery Borland suitor Serena?
Borland software is considering an offer from another company after a preliminary deal with MicroFocus. Is Serena the new company?
06/30/2009 01:55 PM EST

Windows 7 - An eBayer's dream product?
Windows 7 pre-orders can make people money on eBay.
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Cloud computing require companies to understand compliance and regulation. Third parties will play a big role in regulated industries.
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Good Project Management Can Advance Your Career


By Edward J. Correia
August 21, 2007 — 
Virtue may be its own reward, but pay raises and career advancements are nice, too. For all you managers out there, delivering the goods on time may satisfy the bosses, but climbing the corporate ladder might require a bit more.

According to Michelle LaBrosse, founder of management mentoring firm Cheetah Learning, employers rate communication skills equally with honesty and integrity on their list of what they look for in potential employees, she said, citing Job Outlook 2007, a study conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers. Following closely behind those attributes were interpersonal skills, motivation/initiative, strong work ethic and teamwork skills, she says.

"What struck me as I read those skills was that all of them are inherent in project management, and it emphasized what I've believed for years, that project management is a career accelerator." LaBrosse started Cheetah Learning in the late 1980s, and today counsels scores of companies in the health care, consulting, food services, insurance, investment banking, manufacturing and pharmaceutical industries.

When you put yourself on the block, it's not enough just to know your craft. Employers "assume you're going to be technologically literate and that you have the skills that are specific to your industry," says LaBrosse. "Once you have the basics, they want to know that you can perform, achieve results and play well with others."

LaBrosse offers 10 suggestions to put your career in high gear and keep it moving fast forward.

1. SHOW RESULTS. When you improve your project management skills, you know how to get things done quickly and document the results. In our careers, we're often only as good as our last hit. Don't be a one-hit wonder.

2. BE EFFICIENT. Stop reinventing the wheel. Make the most efficient use of resources to generate the best results in the least amount of time. At the end of every project, capture best practices and lessons learned, and document hits and misses.

3. CREATE AN ONGOING DIALOGUE. One mistake I often see on teams is the assumption that there's one meeting, everyone goes away, the communication ends, and somehow everything is still going to magically get done. Communicate frequently and with clarity.

4. PLAY WELL WITH OTHERS. People hear the word teamwork, and either groan or claim to be a team player. Be honest with yourself. Do you really play well with others? Do other people want to be on your project team? Are you respected? Do you listen actively to what others have to say? Good project managers know when to lead and when to get out of the way.

5. LET YOUR CONFIDENCE SHINE. When someone shows confidence, everyone in the room feels it, too. People with a solid project-management foundation feel more competent and are able to project more confidence to the team and the boss.

6. KEEP YOUR COMMITMENTS. Missed deadlines and projects that slip through the cracks are career killers. Focus on timelines and results that build your reputation and give team members a reason to trust you. "I know that I can always count on her to get the job done." That quote can–and should–be about you.

7. GET A GRIP. Good project managers don't freak out. They remain calm and in control because they have a plan that contains all the project's critical information. They know when all the deadlines are, who is responsible for what, and they've documented all changes. Every team needs someone who can stay calm when a project gets rocky and bring stability to chaos.

8. ADAPT TO CHANGE. Companies change, deadlines change, plans and priorities change. People come and go. Good project managers know they often have to adapt their plans and document what has changed and how that impacts the entire project. Don't ignore change; embrace it and adapt.

9. KNOW WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. Know what yours are and what skills you need to acquire to move you from the status quo to the next level. Once you have a solid foundation of project management skills, keep building. Continuous learning and a thirst for knowledge are attractive to employers and will earn you the respect of your team.

10. LEAD WITH PURPOSE AND PASSION. People will follow those who know what they're doing and can generate results. Project management is a powerful leadership tool because it not only shows us how to keep our eye on the prize and the purpose, it's also about the passion to achieve and succeed. Nothing feels better than accomplishment, and nothing succeeds like success.

How many of these skills will you retain? Test your memory with this online crossword puzzle.


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