A project manager who doesn't make mistakes is a project manager who never progresses. Making new mistakes is a sign of growth and advancement. However, repeating past errors or failing to learn from those made by others is a definitive path to sabotaging one’s career. Explore this rigorously researched compilation of 101 mistakes that project managers routinely commit across domains, industries, and cultures, and understand the “why's” and “how not's” of each of these mistakes. You will be better equipped to scrutinize those mistakes you may make without realizing. While there are many books that tell you “what to do” when it comes to project management, this is the only book that tells you “what not to do”. This compilation would help project managers, function heads, project leaders, sponsors and senior management / leadership engaged in the world of project and program management.

Supervisory training teaches you about a lot of things you should do, such as how to prepare a performance appraisal, conduct a meeting, divide up work, or manage your time. What it usually leaves out are all the things you shouldn’t do—the subtle and not-so-subtle mistakes in managing people that could haunt you the rest of your career. Now there’s a comprehensive, instant-answer guide to avoiding over 100 of the most common mistakes made by managers that no business course ever told you about. This valuable career-enhancing guide details where the pitfalls lie, so you can avoid them more easily, as well as how to recover from a mistake quickly and prevent it from happening again. You’ll discover how to avoid such management blunders as: • Not having clear objectives • Delegating the wrong jobs • Being defensive to criticism • Ignoring office politics • Taking on risky projects with little payoff • Solving performance problems with new technology • Getting caught up in the rumor mill • Letting other managers steal away your staff • And much more! Armed with this guide, you don’t have to complete an entire managerial career realizing your mistakes only after you had to suffer the consequences. You’ll know exactly what to do and say in virtually any delicate business situation . . . and boost your success in the process.

Nonprofits are some of the scrappiest organizations you’ll ever experience. In many respects, they resemble start-ups. Think about it. Small groups (generally) of highly dedicated, focused believers coming together to achieve something greater than they could ever achieve on their own. They’re often cash-strapped, moving faster than their infrastructures can keep up with, and frequently learning and adapting as quickly as they can. The majority of nonprofit staff are able to do so much good with so few resources. The general public has come to expect nonprofits to behave this way. But one thing I’ve noticed is that unlike the corporate sector, there is little in the way of generally accepted “best practices” across the nonprofit sector. This results in organizations that serially make mistakes — often resulting in detrimental impacts to their staff, their donors, their revenue, and ultimately to the achievement of their mission. In 101 Biggest Mistakes Nonprofits Make and How You Can Avoid Them, you’ll hear directly from industry veterans who have over 300 years of combined experience inside nonprofit organizations and leading consulting firms serving nonprofits. They are experts in strategic planning, government relations, leadership, finance and administration, program development, marketing, and philanthropy. Contrary to what the title might suggest, this book is NOT an admonishment of the nonprofit sector and those who make their career within it. Far from it. I know that one of the least-funded areas in the nonprofit sector is staff training and development. That is at the core of what brought me to envision this book, to assemble this group of expert contributors, and to bring this work to market. Everyone makes mistakes, whether you work in the nonprofit sector, the commercial sector, or anywhere in between. In the corporate sector there are entire industries designed to provide coaching and teaching at all levels of an organization, even customized to market niches. These industries help teach leaders how to improve and do their jobs at the highest possible levels. There are also plenty of works outlining best practices in strategy, design, staffing, leadership, management, finance, etc. Roadmaps, if you will, to help corporate executives, leaders, and individual contributors avoid costly mistakes and maximize impact for their customers and businesses. The same can’t yet be said for the nonprofit sector. In this book I’ve compiled the 101 biggest mistakes that cost nonprofits the most, and given you expert recommendations to help you avoid making these mistakes yourself.

Compared to a few decades ago, companies today are faced with a much more challenging environment providing successful products and solutions for their customers. They are dealing with global competition, very rapid change in technologies, and tremendous volatility in economic conditions. As project managers, we are helping our companies survive in this difficult landscape. We are “agents of change” and “drivers of change.” The most important project management methodology today that will help us deal with this change and this volatility is Agile. However, no one process or project management methodology fits all situations! Agile is not a panacea for all projects. Many times, our projects are large enough and complex enough that some parts of the project are best suited to using a predictive planning approach, and other parts are more suited to using Agile. Therefore, a hybrid approach that mixes the traditional, waterfall approach with Agile is really required in many situations today. The agile community oftentimes has quite a negative view of hybrid approaches. Key writers on Agile often say that attempting to use hybrid will corrupt all attempts to use Agile, and will result in failure. In this book, the argument is made that integrating these methodologies can be done if approached the right way, and in fact, this is necessary today.

Here's a very surprising statistic: Within the first 18 months on the job, 40 percent of all management newcomers fail by either getting fired, quitting, or receiving a bad review, according to Manchester Inc., a business consulting group. Some first-timers are overwhelmed by their newfound power while some are weighed down by the responsibility. But for most, the overriding concern is to avoid personal failure. Topics include: what it takes to be a manager, how to take charge, how to establish your authority, earn respect and credibility, deal with social issues, how to be a leader, gain the cooperation and commitment of others, manage yourself, interview tips, set realistic goals, coaching skills, creative problem solving, sexual harassment guidelines, how to manage multiple projects and assignments, how to delegate effectively, successful meetings, communication barriers, dealing with interruptions, developing self-confidence, turning around unacceptable performance, dealing with stress, how to write effectively and clearly, how to effectively use e-mail, employees that complain or are disagreeable, and hundreds more.

Clear-Cut Ways to Manage Project Risk If you're a typical project manager, you're probably aware of the importance of risk management but may not have the time or expertise to develop a full-blown plan. This book is a quick and practical guide to applying the disciplines of proven risk management practices without the rigor of complex processes. Part of the Project Manager's Spotlight series from Harbor Light Press, this straightforward book offers solutions to real-life risk scenarios. Inside, best-selling author Kim Heldman highlights critical components of risk management and equips you with tools, techniques, checklists, and templates you can put to use immediately. By following a realistic case study from start to finish, you'll see how a project manager deals with each concept. Ultimately, this book will help you anticipate, prevent, and alleviate major project risks. Project Manager's Spotlight on Risk Management teaches you how to Look for and document risk Anticipate why projects fail Prevent scope and schedule risks Analyze and prioritize risks Develop, implement, and monitor risk response plans And much more!

No project management training? No problem! In today’s workplace, employees are routinely expected to coordinate and manage projects. Yet, chances are, you aren’t formally trained in managing projects—you’re an unofficial project manager. FranklinCovey experts Kory Kogon and Suzette Blakemore understand the importance of leadership in project completion and explain that people are crucial in the formula for success. This updated and revised edition of Project Management for the Unofficial Project Manager offers practical, real-world insights for effective project management and guides you through the essentials of the value, people, and project management process: Scope Plan Engage Track and Adapt Close If you’re struggling to ensure multiple projects are finished with high value and on time, this book is for you. If you manage projects without the benefit of a team, this book is also for you. Change the way you think about project management—"project manager" may not be your official title, but with the right strategies, you can excel in this project economy.