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Welcome to the Mindavation online project management newsletter.
Our commitment is to share news about project management upcoming events, tips & tricks of the trade, recommendations for reference and inspirational materials, and Mindavation course offerings.
As the end of 2004 approaches us and the holidays close in, take some time for yourself. Find at least one new project management "trick" to try in the coming year.
| Free Template of the Month |
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Each month Mindavation will offer a template from our Project Templates CD free of charge. Don't miss out on this opportunity!
This month's holiday gift to our subscribers is our Communication Plan template. This template, which is 22 pages, can be used to identify communication methods and expectations, as well as document that agreement. It is one of the most comprehensive templates that Mindavation offers.
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| Book Recommendation of the Month |
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How Full is your Bucket? by Tom Rath and Donald O. Clifton, PhD Galllup Press, 2004, New York
A very quick read, How Full is Your Bucket? reminds us that every interaction with every project stakeholder has an affect on that person, and potentially on the results of the projects we manage. The authors state that taking a mindful approach to the way we interact with others, with an emphasis on encouragement when it is valid, is paramount to "filling the bucket" of those we touch in and out of the workplace. However, this book is not proposing a "hug everyone, all the time" approach. Research conducted by the authors and by The Gallup Organization shows when encouragement is effective, and when "too much of a good thing" actually is a detriment to morale.
This book is a great validation for the project managers among us that are effective at relationship management, and is also useful for those who are looking for some pointers for ways to improve relationship management in their projects.
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| Coming Soon to a City Near You... |
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December 6th-8th, 2004 Denver, CO "Complex IT Project Management"
December 16th-17th, 2004 Denver, CO "Intelligent Disobedience"
January 20th-21st, 2005 Minneapolis, MN "Intelligent Disobedience"
January 26th-28th, 2005 Boise, ID "Complex IT Project Management"
Looking for a class to attend? Would you like to meet us face to face? If we are in your area, feel free to contact us to schedule a meeting.
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| This Month's Article: A Sponsorship Report Card |
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By Bob McGannon, PMP
You have been assigned a high profile project that will involve significant technical and business process changes across your company. It appears that you have adequate initial budget to prepare preliminary plans for the project. You have access to a small team that brings the right talent to your effort - and a sponsor has been named for the project.
This is a good start, but one vital piece of homework remains - you need to complete a report card on your sponsor. Like all report cards, passing grades on required classes are mandatory - and an overall grade point average is something to which we must pay attention.
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| Mindavation Project Templates CD Available |
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Mindavation offers 30 customizable project templates and tools to make your life easier! The CD includes full project lifecycle templates and tools.
Documents are in MS Word, MS Excel, MS Project 2000 (and Adobe). Modify each template to suit YOUR business and project needs.
Price (including shipping & handling): $100
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2005 Public Course Schedule Now Available! |
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Looking for ways to brush up your skills? Studying for your PMP? Just looking for a way to network with other Project Managers?
Mindavation offers public courses throughout the year at many locations. Three new locations have been added for 2005;
- Richmond, VA
- Madison, WI
- and Oklahoma City, OK
For a full list of our class dates and descriptions go to... |
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