I’ve been managing projects for over 20 years, and I’ve noticed that the pace of work is getting faster. I’ve certainly needed a helping hand to stay relevant and to keep up, and I’ve always been interested in how other people manage their working lives and To-do lists. I don’t always agree with the approaches in books or find that they work for me, but having a wide toolbox of strategies is great when I’m mentoring professionals. I can suggest things I’ve tried and also things that might work for them. I hope you get something out of my recommendations in the same way that I’ve grown from them!
I loved this book because it’s so practical and grounded in reality–so many project management books tell you how to work in an ideal world, but the real world is messy. When people get involved in processes and decision-making, suddenly the textbook formulae for how to get work done no longer apply.
I liked Brett’s writing style and found the book very relatable. Plus, it’s full-color and really nicely put together–and I love a book that is beautiful to read and pragmatic in its advice!
"Finally, digital teams have a reference book that covers everything they need to know about project management, from scoping and budgeting to managing teams and clients." —Karen McGrane, author, Going Responsive
Project management—it’s not just about following a template or using a tool, but rather developing personal skills and intuition to find a method that works for everyone. Whether you’re a designer or a manager, Project Management for Humans will help you estimate and plan tasks, scout and address issues before they become problems, and communicate with and hold people accountable.
I’ve had this book on my shelf for years, and I recommend it all the time! In project roles, I don’t have line management responsibility for the people I am working with, so I have to get things done through others, by influencing, negotiation, and engaging others. I keep coming back to this book because it’s packed with useful ideas, tips, tools, and things to do–and it’s another full-color, attractive read!
It’s also really easy to follow so no matter what the goal, I can find a strategy that I think is going to work to help me keep my project moving.
From research into high performers and from his own experience, Patrick Mayfield concludes that many of us leading change have prioritised and focused on the wrong things. Great change leaders understand this. Could their focus and different behaviours be the reason for their achievements? Patrick believes the lessons have been hiding in plain sight. Practical People Engagement provides a better approach as well as a rich source of practices and techniques that help the reader get better results from the change they are trying to lead. As well as challenging conventional perspectives and practices on the 'people thing', Patrick provides…
Many people from all walks of life, even after many accomplishments and experiences, are often plagued by dissatisfaction, pervasive longing, and deep questioning. These feelings may make them wonder if they are living the life they were meant to lead.
Living on Purpose is the guidebook these people have been…
I work remotely most of the time, and leading virtual project teams (or any teams) is a real challenge. I used to be able to catch people in the office, but the world of work has changed now, and I have to rely on different strategies.
This book is packed with strategies and I enjoyed learning new ways of being able to connect with my teams even though we are no longer in the same office most of the time. The book taught me about having the right mindset for virtual leadership and I loved all the different case studies and stories that helped illustrate good (and not-so-good) ways of working.
The future of work is virtual, with dispersed teams, telecommuting, remote working and virtual meetings becoming the norm across sectors and industries around the world. However leading virtual teams requires a new set of skills and a facilitative leadership approach, Virtual Leadership is here to help.
At its best, virtual working can be productive and creative, tapping into the best people wherever they are and bringing skills and experience together efficiently and at low cost. But it can also lead to isolated and disengaged workers, ineffective communication, and uncoordinated and even counter-productive activity.
Virtual Leadership provides practical strategies, tools and…
This book has really cute graphics–what’s not to love about ninjas made out of office supplies? I loved the illustrations but I also feel confident recommending it because it’s not like the other time management or productivity books that I have read.
I’m wary of many time management books because I feel they don’t speak to the reality of being a working parent and having to juggle All The Things, and I could really relate to this book. It felt like the suggestions were reasonable and pragmatic, and I learned something. It helped me change the way I approach my workload, so I’m grateful for that.
In the age of information overload, traditional time management techniques simply don't cut it when it comes to overflowing inboxes, ever-expanding to-do lists and endless, pointless meetings. Thankfully there is a better way: The Way of the Productivity Ninja.
Using techniques including Ruthlessness, Mindfulness, Zen-like Calm and Stealth & Camouflage you will get your inbox down to zero, make the most of your attention, beat procrastination and learn to work smarter, not harder.
Written by one of the UK's foremost productivity experts, How to be a Productivity Ninja is a fun, accessible and practical guide to staying cool, calm and…
Gifts from a Challenging Childhood
by
Jan Bergstrom,
Learn to understand and work with your childhood wounds. Do you feel like old wounds or trauma from your childhood keep showing up today? Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed with what to do about it and where to start? If so, this book will help you travel down a path…
I loved this book because it was one of the most exciting things I’ve read in the project management space for some time. It’s not enough for me to complete a task or project–it has to be fit for purpose and completed in the right way, with the right input from others. And how to actually do that is what I learned from this book.
It’s a method for making sure what my team creates during a project is actually used and is useful, which means I can show the value we add and how we are making a difference through projects. I thought the practical exercises and tools were fantastic, and the author leaves nothing unexplained–it’s such a thorough guide to managing change adoption.
Change management is expensive and often undervalued – but it is the vital element that delivers engagement and return on investment for major projects.
Based on many years of experience of change management and packed with proven techniques, Build, Excite, Equip is a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to managing complex change and ensuring your project stands out and delivers.
Its easy-to-follow methodology comes with supporting tools that enable project managers to become effective and successful change managers.
Build, Excite, Equip will help you to:
Engage and onboard people early so they are ready to use the change on go-live
Reduce project…
Learn how to manage all the projects your manager has given you, keep everyone happy and still leave the office on time! This practical book includes templates, checklists, trackers, and exercises. Find out how to prioritize what really matters, juggle all your stakeholders, and consolidate your work so it doesn't take up so much time (or brainpower).
This book covers how to think differently about project schedules, teams, processes, and more so you can win back time in the day by working smarter.
