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Former LinkedIn Exec Says People Have the Power in Social Media
Categories:
PMI Global Congress 2011 - EMEA
Categories: PMI Global Congress 2011 - EMEA
| For all the hype about the massive transformation wrought by the social media revolution, it still comes down to individuals. "We've all heard of social media. It's nothing new. It's about people and it's about their relationships," said Kevin Eyres, former managing director of LinkedIn Europe, in his keynote speech at the PMI® Global Congress 2011--EMEA in Dublin, Ireland. And it's no different for project and program managers. They should be leveraging social media as a competitive advantage to build business relationships and gain professional insight. "Social media gives us a different way to interact," he told attendees from around the world. For the skeptics content to sit on the social media sidelines, Mr. Eyres issued a warning: "Is all this social stuff important? It is. This is not going away," he said. "Use social media for knowledge and information sharing with the right tools in the right context." That could mean following project management thought leaders on Twitter for an early jump on trends. Or, it could mean joining a discussion on one of PMI's communities of practice. No matter the social vehicle, there's a willing and able audience of project professionals ready to pitch in on project problems as a way to help "the greater good," Mr. Eyres said. He compared it to the community effort behind open source software. For all the power of social media, though, you shouldn't just "hang out" on social media. Go in with a true purpose backed up by a plan -- using the same skills you would on any other project. "You guys are project and program managers. You're good at this," he said. To get started in social media, simply listen and then slowly build up who you are and what you're focused on for a consistent online brand image. "If you start throwing out random things, you lose your authenticity," Mr. Eyres said. "Pick out things you're passionate about." On LinkedIn, for example, it's not just about how many connections you have. Mr. Eyres set 50 as the minimum number to get value. But he encouraged project and program managers to remember the context. "Don't be a promiscuous connector. It doesn't do you any good," he said. "Consciously build up a network of influencers." Done right, social media can boost your career, too. "You're building a brand for yourself," he said. "You're an entrepreneur and you are your own best business." For starters, make sure your online presence plays up what you want potential employers to focus on. PMI's Career Central LinkedIn Group can also provide tips and tools. Mr. Eyres did acknowledge the risks of social media and advised people to "understand what information you're making public and choose friends wisely." If you make some mistakes along the way, that's okay -- but you need to put yourself out there, he said. "Your relationships and network matter more than ever." |
Know a Project Management Superstar?
Categories:
PMI
Categories: PMI
| There's a lot of talk about the importance of acknowledgment. But many project managers in the trenches go unnoticed. Here's your chance to change that by nominating a peer for the PMI Linn Stuckenbruck Person of the Year Award. Named after Linn C. Stuckenbruck, PhD, this award recognizes a PMI member for outstanding contributions to the development and advancement of the profession, and his or her contribution to PMI during the previous calendar year. Each nominee's contribution must: 1. Help recognize PMI as the world's leader in project management through activities completed in the previous calendar year (2010 for the 2011 award) 2. Expand and advance the knowledge, use and application of project management 3. Demonstrate broad, far-reaching implications for the profession Nominees may work in any field, including but not limited to business and academia. For the complete list of eligibility requirements and biographical information on Dr. Stuckenbruck, please download the nomination guidelines. Nominations for the 2011 PMI Linn Stuckenbruck Person of the Year must be received at the PMI Global Operations Center by Friday, 1 April 2011. Talk to your project team and PMI chapter colleagues about nominating a PMI member: four to six members must join together to nominate a candidate for this award. No one knows excellence in project management like you and your peers. Nominate a deserving colleague today. |
Is Your Project Among the Best of the Best?
Categories:
PMI
Categories: PMI
| There's no shortage of project failures in the news. So it's especially important to recognize the excellence, innovation and hard work that go into completing a successful project. There's no better way to do so than by nominating your project for the coveted PMI Project of the Year Award.
Established in 1989, the award is among the most prestigious honors in the project management profession. But you must act quickly -- nominations for the 2011 PMI Project of the Year must be received by Tuesday, 1 March 2011. PMI encourages nominations for projects from around the world, regardless of size or industry. The winner will be announced in October at PMI® Global Congress 2011--North America in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, USA. Last year The National Ignition Facility Project submitted by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, California, USA, took top honors. The finalists included the Dallas Cowboys Stadium Project, built for the U.S. football team in Texas and the Norton Brownsboro Hospital Project in Kentucky, USA. Receiving a professional award will enhance your résumé or CV and your career prospects. And Project of the Year is just one of many ways to showcase your successes -- you can also join in the bid for other 2011 PMI Professional Awards. Excellence in project management can't be celebrated without your help. All of the awards require your nominations for a person, project, organization, training product or literature. The nomination deadline for other PMI Professional Awards is 1 April 2011. Submissions for the 2011 PMI Eric Jenett Project Management Excellence Award and the PMI Distinguished Project Award are accepted throughout the year. Have you submitted your nomination for a PMI award yet? |
Organizations Are Recruiting Project Talent—Finally
Categories:
PMI Global Congress 2010 - North America
Categories: PMI Global Congress 2010 - North America
| The buzz at PMI's Global Congress 2010--North America was that organizations are finally looking to hire. And that's good news for project practitioners at any level. |
Great IT Projects Demand Great Governance
Categories:
PMI Global Congress 2010 - North America
Categories: PMI Global Congress 2010 - North America
| As CIO of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Richard A. Spires oversees 91 projects, each with a budget of at least US$50 million. And the first thing he did was conduct a review of each one of them. "It took a while but it was extraordinarily useful," he told the audience at PMI Global Congress 2010 -- North America. To transform great ideas into great project outcomes, you need great governance. But that only comes with the support of empowered executives who understand their role in keeping projects on schedule, said Mr. Spires. It also helps to have a strong governance board that draws on the expertise of business, IT, procurement and finance leaders. "I want them all in the same room, and I want them to buy into this program," Mr. Spires said. "A dynamic of trust and interrelationships are formed that can really help. You need governance to keep things moving, to get decisions made, and this way they're no longer working against each other." In a bureaucratic setting that sometimes seems designed to slow progress, Mr. Spires likes to keep the entire process open. "I always tell project managers, I want you transparent," he said. "I want the major risks brought up at the governance sessions so they can be dealt with." Good governance goes hand-in-hand with good execution -- which means establishing an authoritative project management office with full-time, in-house leadership. As with many presentations at congress, there was talk about agile. Mr. Spires said people don't always know what they want when a project launches. So project managers should get projects out fast -- but be ready to shift. Mr. Spires recommends IT programs incrementally deliver operational capabilities with a first release within the first 18 months after funding. But he also conceded implementing agile requires some attitude adjustment -- especially given that DHS is comprised of 22 separate government agencies. Sometimes that sets off a "culture clash" between individuals who came up through the traditional large program model and those more comfortable with agile processes. If executed well, IT can be a transformational agent, Mr. Spires said. That sounds like pretty good advice whether you're working for a massive government agency or a small startup. Let the transformation begin... |