Effective Ways To Use Surveys in the Project Lifecycle
I like to think of projects as a living, breathing, and evolving process — not one set in stone. For some, this viewpoint is scary. It means that at any given point, you may find a key piece of information that transforms your project. But for others, this perspective...
How to manage your team’s holiday break
Every year, as we leave Halloween behind, employees start fantasizing about eggnog and gingerbread cookies. They dream of chilly mornings by the fire and perfectly sweet hot cocoa. You know what they don’t dream of? A frantic manager or client checking in on the...
How I Landed My First Job on An Airplane
It was February 1996, and I was serving on the National Board of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE). I was a senior civil engineering student at Georgia Tech. Several NSBE regional conferences were taking place, and I thought I should show my support at...
Is It Really Imposter Syndrome or Something Else?
I don't propose to know much about imposter syndrome, and I've seen several takes on what it is and what it is not. So, rather than trying to insert my thoughts into something that I am not an expert on, I’m going to name my own syndrome. It's called ‘People aren't...
Honesty is always the best policy
I am not smart enough to tell different versions of a story to different people and keep them straight, and neither or you. You might think you are, but people notice. I hate when I realize that someone is giving me a new and different version of something they've...
Keeping Our Focus on The Main Thing
I always have a long to-do list. I imagine you do, too. I have a long list for home, my kids, for nonprofits I support, for building my business, for supporting each customer, etc. So even though I give the advice, focus on the main thing. I often get irritated with...
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...