Guessing is not a strategy: How to build decision velocity with AI and real-time data
June 10, 2026 | Live Webinar
Keep It Short and Fun
Kimberly Wiefling is the founder of Wiefling Consulting, Inc., a global consulting enterprise.
There’s a lot going on in a project, so how can you ensure that your communications pierce the consciousness of your busy team? Here are a few creative approaches that have been proven effective in real-world projects.
Communication is pretty much the only means we have of leading effectively as project managers. While listening is a big part of that, when we do speak, we need to find ways to be heard above the surrounding din. If you want your messages to get through the commotion surrounding most projects, keep it short, relevant and fun. If your team is co-located you have a fabulous opportunity to capture their attention visually. Here are some tactics that, while unconventional, and in some cases somewhat uncouth, really work:
> Purchase a life-size cardboard figure of the celebrity of your choice (movie stars, political figures) and have them hold the project goals or next big milestone in their hands just outside of the team meeting room.
> Create a screensaver that conveys the purpose, goals and priorities of the project. Make the background picture irresistible so that people can’t help but load it onto their computers. (The CEO playing “Whack-A-Mole” is always popular). Better yet, have IT plant this screensaver on everyone’s PC while they’re away for the weekend.
> Post the one-page project flow chart, …
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"He who asks is a fool for five minutes, but he who does not ask remains a fool forever." - Chinese Proverb |