A Checklist for Managing Go-Live Decisions and RisksIf you have to replace a complex existing data system in production, decisions about when and whether to go live should be treated with gravity and care. One process that can help keep you honest is developing checklists that describe very clearly what is expected to be accomplished and verified at each milestone.
Send the Right Message: Monitor Your Choice of VoiceWhen we communicate with our coworkers, what’s important in getting our point across is not just what we say, but how we say it. Most of the time, we intuitively moderate our tone to convey friendliness, seriousness, or disappointment, but that can change when we're stressed. Be sure you're sending the right message.
3 Telltale Signs You’re Scaling Agile Too QuicklyWhen an organization grows quickly, it puts stress on people, processes, and customers. Burnout happens, things fall through the cracks, and defects creep in. Unfortunately, many organizations try to scale agile too quickly, and that often leads to failure. Here are three of the telltale signs you're scaling too fast.
Why Laughter Is a Sign of Creative, Productive TeamsLaughter is a sign that people feel relaxed and safe. In a workplace, safety leads to environments that enable more idea generation and innovation, so one approach to improving teammates' creativity and connection is to encourage laughter. But how can you do that so it doesn't feel forced? Steve Berczuk has some ideas.
5 Ways to Improve Your Project ManagementAs a project manager, it's your job to cut through the noise to make clear objectives for your projects. But it’s not so easy to do, especially when your superiors or board are politely “suggesting” another action item. Help your team stay on track with these five tips to move more efficiently through your projects.
Building a Culture of Continuous ImprovementA culture of continuous improvement means you are open to improving how you build and deliver. You don't accept the status quo; you choose how to work and feel empowered to change it if it no longer makes sense. Kevin Goldsmith gives some ideas for frameworks to adopt in order to move toward this people-first culture.
What Intelligent People Say Instead of “I Don’t Know”It takes a certain level of self-confidence to admit to not knowing something when people view you as the expert. Still, if you don’t know the answer and you (or others) think you should, you have some options other than “I don’t know.” These alternative responses are more useful to you and to your questioner.
4 Impediments to Nurturing a Feedback-Rich CultureBeing able to have open, candid conversations that fuel learning, growth, and improvement is critical to a team’s success, so it is important to look out for impediments that can get in the way of having a feedback-rich culture. Here are four common impediments to watch for, as well as behaviors you should nurture.
