Best Practices for Project Methodology

I've trained 600+ project managers over the last 3 years. From budding teams in start-ups to large-scale projects in multinational corporations. Hre are 9 challenges and recommendations frequently shared. 1) Scope Creep Management It's daunting when project deliverables keep changing. Without clear boundaries and pushback, projects will derail. Highly recommend reading "Scope and Requirements Management" and "Effective PM and BA Role Collaboration" to solidify your scope management strategies. 2) Time Management Effective PMs understand that every minute counts. Design an “Ideal Project Week” and schedule critical tasks. Risk assessment? Schedule it. Stakeholder meeting? Schedule it. Documentation review? Schedule it. 3) Stakeholder Engagement Project Managers need to skillfully manage stakeholder expectations. Instead of just updating on progress, send out agendas ahead of stakeholder meetings. Focus on critical discussion points, and be prepared to address the top concerns. 4) Resource Allocation It's tempting to bring in the best talents, but ensure they align with the project's current needs. Don’t bring in a high-level consultant when you need hands-on expertise on the ground. 5) Driving Team Accountability Inconsistent team updates and feedback loops can hurt a project's momentum. As the PM authority, establish regular checkpoints. Embrace the mantra: “Consistency is the heartbeat of projects.” 6) Clear Project Objectives If stakeholders or team members can't quickly summarize the project's goal and outcomes, there’s a clarity issue. Consider methodologies like SMART goals to crystallize your objectives. 7) Handling Conflicts Project disputes, if not addressed promptly, can escalate and impact delivery. Address conflicts head-on. Familiarize yourself with techniques from "Crucial Conversations" for effective resolution. 8) Budgeting Managing finances is critical. A well-told narrative about your project’s ROI and value proposition is invaluable. Understand your budget's narrative, including how resources are allocated, potential ROI, and long-term project benefits. This narrative informs future budgeting decisions. 9) Project Strategy Many project managers grapple with succinctly defining their approach. A clearly articulated strategy not only provides direction but aids in stakeholder buy-in. I highly recommend diving into the "Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK)" to sharpen your strategic skills. How do you prioritize and balance stakeholder engagement with ensuring timely project delivery, especially when faced with conflicting interests?

I spent my 30s managing enterprise IT projects. Here’s what I wish I knew at 29. 1/ Getting teams to simply talk is most of the battle. 2/ Getting sign-off (actual sign-off) on scope will save your bacon. 3/ The right time to think about risks is before you notice problems. 4/ No one is thinking about your project as much as you are. (/should be) 5/ When you have to ask ‘whose job is that?’, it’s probably your job. 6/ If someone asks you if you can do something ‘just this once’ it’s probably their job. 7/ If you do something once, it will be expected for every project in perpetuity. 8/ Understanding *why* someone is making an unusual request will give you insights. 9/ Seeing into the future is a superpower developed through experience. 10/ Senior PMs have good stories. Ask them to share. 11/ Every exec has (at least) two tones. The one they use among piers, and the one they’ll use 1:1. Don’t be startled. 12/ The first step in planning should be to define what you’ll do when things don’t go to plan. 13/ Planning is useful only if that plan quickly evolves into actual work. 14/ Repetition in meetings helps define expectations. Expectations help with accountability. Accountability is how you influence without authority. 15/ Holding people accountable—without being a jerk—is how you preserve relationships. 16/ Don’t ask if something is ‘in progress’. Ask ‘how much work is left’. Use percentages. 17/ Budget more time than you need. Then push hard to use less time than budgeted. 18/ Expect things to go sideways so you’re never surprised--and so you're always ready to act. 19/ Don’t burn bridges. Assume you’ll have another project with them. 20/ Trust is the single most valuable currency in project management. What are your lessons learned?  ____ 👋 Follow me Timothy Morgan for more about enterprise project management.

12 Project Management Truths Hiding in Plain Sight (Subtle shifts that turn good project managers into trusted strategic leaders.) The most impactful project management lessons aren’t hidden in textbooks. They’re right in front of us—often ignored or underestimated. Let’s change that! These are the overlooked habits quietly sabotaging your project success: 1/ Stakeholder Blind Spots: ❌ Mistaking silence for alignment ✅ Actively engage, ask tough questions, listen for what’s not being said → The most dangerous risks come from the quietest stakeholders. 2/ The Planning Perfection Trap: ❌ Trying to predict every twist and turn ✅ Build flexible roadmaps, not rigid blueprints → The goal isn’t perfection—it’s adaptability. 3/ The Meeting Mirage: ❌ Equating control with constant meetings ✅ Replace low-value meetings with focused execution → Meetings don’t move projects forward—momentum does. 4/ Communication Disconnects: ❌ Assuming your message landed ✅ Tailor your message to your audience, not your notes → Communication isn’t just transmission—it’s translation. 5/ The Capacity Illusion: ❌ Demanding more with fewer resources ✅ Prioritize based on actual bandwidth—not wishful thinking → Burnout kills productivity. Pacing creates performance. 6/ Risk Blindness: ❌ Reacting only when problems explode ✅ Track potential risks as they already exist → Early mitigation beats heroic recovery every time. 7/ Feedback at the Finish Line: ❌ Saving lessons learned for the post-mortem ✅ Build feedback loops into the delivery cycle → Reflection is a habit—not an event. 8/ Decision Paralysis: ❌ Delaying choices in pursuit of the perfect one ✅ Make informed, timely decisions—and iterate if needed → A moving project with direction outperforms a stuck one with potential. 9/ The Tool Illusion: ❌ Thinking new software will solve your problems ✅ Focus on behaviors, processes, and mindset first → The best tools in the world won’t fix poor habits. 10/ Trust Deficit: ❌ Micromanaging people instead of managing outcomes ✅ Trust your team and coach for ownership → Leadership is about removing blockers—not creating them. 11/ Output Obsession: ❌ Delivering tasks for the sake of progress ✅ Tie every deliverable to value and purpose → Output means nothing if it doesn’t create an impact. 12/ Visionless Execution: ❌ Getting buried in the weeds ✅ Connect every action to the bigger mission → A project without vision is just a to-do list. Because great PMs don’t just complete projects. They lead people. They drive progress. And they elevate outcomes. Which of these 12 truths hit home for you?

College completely failed in teaching me how to manage projects. So I spent over 10,000+ hours in the field and studying legendary project leaders. Then, I distilled what I learned into 27 simple sentences. But unlike college, these won't cost you $60,000. Here they are for free: 1. If it doesn't have a clear goal, budget, and deadline, it's not a project - it's just work. 2. The power is in planning, not the plan. A plan is just a way to store your research and decision-making. 3. What we do for a living is design, make, and build things. Everything else is administration and support. 4. Successful project teams are full-time and dedicated. Focus is everything. 5. Anything is possible if you break it down into small enough steps. 6. Agreements are flexible, but deadlines are not. 7. Gantt charts are outdated the second you press save. 8. A bad executive is a distraction; a good executive shields a team from distraction. 9. The greatest threat you face managing a project isn't external; it lies within your own biases and thought patterns. 10. Lead with the answer. People have busy minds. Give them what they came for first, then back it up with the details. 11. A picture is worth a thousand words. Use diagrams, charts, and models to explain complex ideas. 12. Create one team room where everyone works, shares data, and laughs together. 13. The only acceptable answer to "who owns this" is one single name. 14. The daily huddle is the 15 most important minutes of the day. 15. Risk management is done continuously, not once. Assumptions change, so should your response. 16. One small scope change won't derail a project, but 100 will. 17. People come and go. Standardize onboarding and off-boarding for team members. 18. Preparation always beats planning. Plan for order and you’ll be destroyed by chaos. Prepare for chaos and you’ll thrive in any condition. 19. Communication isn’t what you say—it’s what they understand. Always check for alignment. 20. Celebrate small wins every week to build momentum. 21. Your project's strategic purpose is your guide for decision-making and storytelling. 22. Healthy debates, but one decision. One team, one voice. 23. Best-in-class managers are prepared to handle change orders, and so are their clients. 24. Completion percentages are a waste of time - too subjective. A task is either done or not done. 25. If you accept behavior once, you've just lowered the bar for the whole team. You're leading. They're watching. 26. Spend 80% of your time on the top 20% of your stakeholders. They can make or break your project at the snap of a finger. 27. Finish, document, reflect, and learn before starting a new project. Enjoyed this post? Please share it with others ♻️ and subscribe to my newsletter, The Influential Project Manager for more ideas like this sent to your inbox!

I've managed 100+ projects over 15 years. Here's what nobody tells you about project management: It's not about fancy tools or complicated charts. It's about turning chaos into cash. Here's seven ways to do it right: 1. Promote clear communication • Most projects fail because people don't understand their role • Define everything in writing • No assumptions 2. Manage the risks • Problems don't show up with a warning • Create backup plans before you need them • Small issues become disasters if ignored 3. Practice ruthless accountability • Track everything • Every task needs an owner • No excuses, just results 4. Support cross-team execution • Silos kill projects • Build bridges between departments • Create shared victories 5. Promote team empowerment • Micromanagement breeds mediocrity • Give clear direction, then step back • Let your people shine 6. Maximize your resources • Time is money • Talent is scarce • Use both wisely 7. Focus on results • Deliverables > Activities • Measure what matters • Align with business goals Great project management isn't about managing projects. It's about leading people to achieve something meaningful.