2 Years on the Virtual Lam
In January 2020, I hosted an in-person class. It was a Lean Six Sigma Basics class for a group of young professionals on a rotational program within a company, and I had a great time. Most of the attendees were new college graduates and they were excited to travel to...
Agile Elements Keep a Project Moving
Shift happens. Shift happens everywhere. The world around us changes so quickly. Family. Politics. The environment. Business. It's naive to think that things will happen exactly as we plan them. We only fool and frustrate ourselves when we get bent out of shape...
Decisions Require Action
"Never leave the scene of a decision without taking an action."-Tony Robbins I'm a serial decision maker. I take a special joy in making grandiose proclamations about my new life choices. For me, these decisions are usually related to drastic eating changes and how...
Lean for Project Managers
I have been learning and practicing Lean and Six Sigma for the past 18 years, and it's been an awesome journey. This journey has allowed me to learn and think about work and processes from a customer’s perspective. I studied engineering as an undergrad and business as...
What is Project Coaching?
I’ve had a personal trainer a couple times in my life. I hired the trainer because: I want additional help in holding myself accountable to specific goals. I’m not an expert in physical training and want to leverage the expertise of someone who is. I want to go...
Taking 2021 Projects Successfully into 2022
I'm not one to rush my life along. I want to savor each day and smell all the roses. But I’ll be the first to admit… I am truly looking forward to a fresh start in 2022. Yes, I know the things we are currently dealing with won’t just suddenly disappear - the pandemic,...
Do You Have The Right Team?
Oftentimes we are assigned a team; but sometimes, we are blessed enough to draft our own team. Regardless, we've all asked ourselves: “Do I have the right team?” Or the question I think we’re really asking is: “Am I on a winning team?” I like to believe that I can...
Is Your Team Properly Trained?
It's football season, and I'm watching a couple of my favorite teams have rough seasons. It happens. As individuals, the teams all have a number of standouts -- players who bring exceptional skills and strengths to the team. However, when they come together to play,...
Metrics for Evaluating Your Team’s Success
Sometimes it's easy to keep score on whether a team is successful or not. Did they win the contest? Yes or no. But sometimes, the team is working on a long-term project that doesn't complete for months and months, which means there aren't any wins and losses to...