Managing People (Including Yourself) for Project Success

Book excerpt: Project Success. Everyone Wants It. Not Everyone Gets It. Ever wonder why some project managers are consistently more successful than others? The best trained managers are not always the most effective--and this book explains why. It shows you in step-by-step detail how the integration of people skills with technical skills is crucial, and how the lack of a people-oriented approach is frequently the cause of project failure. Based on the authors' 40 years of successful project management experience, this practical guidebook clearly shows how productive communication, motivation and leadership skills, and self-management techniques can make a dramatic difference in meeting project goals. Then, using real-life project examples and enjoyable "hands-on" exercises, the book shows you how to build on these basic principles to: * develop practical communication techniques (see page 22) * deliver memorable presentations (see page 37) * negotiate effectively on projects (see page 89) * understand customer needs (see page 210) * set personal goals for improved self-management (see page 112) * run productive meetings and training exercises (see pages 147 and 297) * establish clear project objectives (see page 167) * motivate and lead people (see page 71) * effectively monitor project progress (see page 185) * and much more! The book concludes by linking all the people-centered skills and techniques covered into the Total Quality Management (TQM) concept, a system used with great success in the manufacturing sector. The book shows you how to apply TQM to service organization projects. Consistent project success comes when project managers focus their energy on people--the ones on their project team, others in their organization, and their clients. You will find in this highly readable professional resource the practical tools and "people skills" to achieve your project goals easily and enjoyably!