If you aren't used to it, remote work can be difficult to adjust to under normal circumstances and the next few weeks will not be normal circumstances.  Here are just a few tips to help make the day more productive.

PM Minute: Remote PM - Be Productive

And speaking of assumptions, do not make any or assign motivations to anyone's behavior.  Whether a missed deadline or a uncharacteristically sharp email, give everyone the benefit of the doubt because the time will come when you will need it from them.

PM Minute: Remote PM - Avoid Assumptions

Circumstances require that we withdraw from each other physically at a time when we need support more than ever.  Frequent notes just to check in might be what everyone needs.

Pm Minute: Remote PM - Over-Communicate

As with PM software, the tools that you use to communicate with your team should support the  team's process and not dictate it.

PM Minute: Remote PM - Choose Your Tools

PM Minutes this week will focus on simple tips for project managers, or anyone, working remote for the first time.

PM Minute: Remote Project Management

The contractor may not have your technical resources, and you do not have the fund accounting expertise, but together you can share the opportunity and the benefit of winning the contract.

PM Minute: Opportunity Responses - Share

To accept or ignore a risk is to basically bake it into the baseline project plan.  It's to identify that the risk exists but to choose to not change the plan and only benefit from the opportunity if it happens.

PM Minute: Opportunity Responses - Ignore

To exploit an opportunity is to attempt to eliminate any uncertainty in achieving a positive outcome.

PM Minute: Opportunity Responses - Exploit

Enhancing a positive risk seeks to increase the amount of exposure to a positive risk.

PM Minute: Opportunity Responses - Enhance

There is the potential for positive risks in a project as well.  Positive risks are generally referred to as opportunities and, just like negative risks, there are four potential response strategies.  These strategies seek to accomplish the same basic goals of negative risk responses, but to the benefit of the project.

PM Minute: Opportunity Responses

Transferring a risk is the act of shifting the impact or responsibility to someone else.  The most common example is probably insurance.

PM Minute: Risk Responses - Transfer

In the case of a risk that is very unlikely, or has a high cost to implement one of the other three strategies, acceptance can be acceptable.

PM Minute: Risk Responses - Accept

Avoidance means reducing the chance of a risk occurring to zero.  Sometimes avoidance is not practical, or possible

PM Minute: Risk Responses - Avoid

Mitigation is a strategy that is used to minimize the impact of a risk or threat

PM Minute: Risk Responses - Mitigate

Not my planned subject, but today's PM Minute is all about the importance of identifying risks and having a contingency plan in place in case a risk occurs

PM Minute: Have a Backup Plan

This should sound very familiar to anyone doing project work.  We can begin with the start date and estimate the finish based on who is available to do the work, and how long it will take with that availability.  Or, we can start with a deadline and back into a start date using the same method.

PM Minute:  Even Novelists Use PM

For today's PM minute, I'd like to close the week out with a quick survey.Would you listen to and participate in - either as a guest, a caller, or by chat - a 30-45 minute live podcast on project management?

PM Minute:  Listener Survey

The Chunnel project was also more than a year late and 80% over budget. So, the next time you're worried about your project, remember the Chunnel and that audacious ideas rarely follow plan.

PM Minute:  Changing the (English) Channel

When you are faced with a tough problem, talk it out loud. Take control away from your inner critic by putting the words out there, like a first draft. You'll find it can help bring clarity and an ultimate solution.

PM Minute:  Talk Problems Out Loud

It's been a long break, but Colocation is back. Starting today, the PM Minute will come at you each work day.  This quick, one minute tip is published first thing in the morning and is a great way to start your day.

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