Tag Archives: project managers

Remote Project Management – The Visual Project Charter™

Remote Project Management - The Visual Project Charter™

The truth is that for most of us project managers, whether we want to admit it or not, the process of creating a project charter is one that we often dread.

We sit there in front of a Microsoft Word template blinking at us on the screen and realize just how much missing or incomplete information we have when we begin typing into the one of the very first, and potentially most important artifacts for any project.

We know we face the sending of a series of emails, follow up emails, follow up to the follow up emails, and maybe even some escalation emails and phone calls just to get the information we need to create the first draft of a project charter. And that’s before we even begin trying to get alignment, buy-in, and sign-off on the document.

Now, add in the challenges of trying to create a project charter when everyone is working remotely and our sacred task of initiating a project doesn’t get any easier.

So, there has never been a better time to leverage the Visual Project Charter™.

The Visual Project Charter™

With online whiteboarding tools like Mural, Miro, LucidSpark and Microsoft Whiteboard you can easily download the Visual Project Charter™ for FREE as a JPEG and upload it as a background to place digital sticky notes on as you collaborate with cross-functional team virtually using Zoom, Cisco WebEx or Microsoft Teams.

Visual Project Charter™

Click here to access the PDF poster (35″x56″) and JPEG of the Visual Project Charter™

To help give you a better idea of how easy this is to do and what it might look like, I created the following short six-minute video introduction to the Visual Project Charter™ to show how easy it is to take the JPEG and upload it as a background into online whiteboarding tools like Mural, Miro, LucidSpark or Microsoft Whiteboard where you can place digital sticky notes instead of real ones as you collaborate with cross-functional team virtually using Zoom, Cisco WebEx or Microsoft Teams.

Click here to access the PDF poster (35″x56″) and JPEG of the Visual Project Charter™

Remote Project Management

Whether you download the Visual Project Charter™ PDF and print it as a poster (35″x56″) or use the JPEG in the digital world I’m sure you’ll agree that this a much more visual, collaborative, enjoyable and effective way to gather all of the information to populate your project charter and build the buy-in and alignment necessary to make your project a success!

Here is a step-by-step guide for how to use the Visual Project Charter™ with online whiteboarding tools like Miro, Mural, LucidSpark and Microsoft Whiteboard:

  1. Download the Visual Project Charter™ from this web site
  2. (both JPEG and PDF)

  3. Create a new workspace in your online whiteboarding tool (Miro, Mural, LucidSpark or Microsoft Whiteboard)
  4. Upload the JPEG version of the Visual Project Charter™ to your online whiteboarding tool
    • MIRO – ‘Upload->My Device’ (left side icons)
    • MURAL -‘Images->import images’ (left side icons)
    • LUCIDSPARK – ‘Insert->Images’ (under hamburger menu on the top)
    • WHITEBOARD – ‘Images->Library Image’ (bottom icons)

  5. Resize the JPEG image after it is added
  6. Lock the JPEG image down so people can’t move it around when placing their sticky notes
  7. Create work areas around the Visual Project Charter™ to give you larger, targeted areas to work (if desired)
  8. Plan and execute your cross-functional team meeting to populate the Visual Project Charter™ via Zoom or Cisco WebEx or Microsoft teams when the workspace is built
  9. Have fun!
  10. Use the results of your Visual Project Charter™ session to create a traditional project charter and route it for signatures

Charting ChangeI’m sure you’ll get a lot of value out of the Visual Project Charter™, especially when using it as part of your remote project management best practices.

And, if you like the Visual Project Charter™, you will LOVE the Change Planning Toolkit™ and should definitely pick up copies of my books:

  1. Charting Change
  2. Stoking Your Innovation Bonfire

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FINAL DAY – Insane Cyber Deal on My Latest Book

Charting Change

Every so often something comes through your inbox that seems too good to be true.

Today was one of those times when an email dropped into my inbox stating that Palgrave Macmillan, the publisher of my latest book Charting Change is offering it at a ridiculous Cyber Week Sale price of $9.99 on the USA web site.

USA – https://www.palgrave.com/us/book/9781137536952

There is also a European web site offering it for 9,99 Euros if you need it:

EUROPE – https://www.palgrave.com/gp/book/9781137536952

You can either get the eBook with INSTANT DOWNLOAD or the hardcover with FREE SHIPPING – It’s your choice!

IMPORTANT CAVEAT: According to the email, this deal ends December 3, 2019

Here is a blurb about the book from the web site to give you a sense of the value it will deliver to your organization:

Research shows that up to seventy percent of all change initiatives fail. Let’s face it, change is hard, as is getting an organization on board and working through the process. One thing that has been known to be effective is onboarding teams not only to understand this change, but to see the process and the progress of institutional change. Charting Change will help teams and companies visualize this complicated process. Kelley has developed the Change Planning Canvas™, which enables leadership and project teams to easily discuss the variable that will influence the change effort and organize them in a collaborative and visual way. It will help managers build a cohesive approach that can be more easily embraced by employees who are charged with the actual implementation of change. This book will teach readers how to use this visual toolkit to build a common language and vision for implementing change.

Here are the links for you again to take advantage of this offer ending December 3, 2019:

USA – https://www.palgrave.com/us/book/9781137536952 (only $9.99)
EUROPE – https://www.palgrave.com/gp/book/9781137536952 (only 9,99 Euros)

Hardcover or eBook!

Coupon Code: CYBER19PAL

—————————————–

SPECIAL BONUS: Anyone who buys a copy of the book will get FOR FREE 26 of the 50+ tools in the Change Planning Toolkit™ – INCLUDING a copy of the Change Planning Canvas™

——————————————

If $9.99 is still too much of a barrier to break through to accelerate your change capability, then go ahead and grab the 10 free tools, including a visualization of the Association of Change Management Professionals (ACMP) Standard for Change Management® and my popular & powerful collaborative Visual Project Charter™.

 

What People Are Saying

Daniel H Pink“There’s no denying it: Change is scary. But it’s also inevitable. In Charting Change, Braden Kelley gives you a toolkit and a blueprint for initiating and managing change in your organization, no matter what form it takes.”

– Daniel H. Pink, author of Drive and To Sell is Human

Eric Hieger“Thoughtful, thorough, and practical is the rare blend that Braden has achieved in this Change Management field guide. Much more than a series of tactics, Charting Change will explicitly, sequentially, and visually help users create a diverse set of experiences for stakeholders that will most certainly increase likelihood of success.”

– Eric D. Hieger, Psy.D., Business Transformation and Change Leadership Practice Lead at ADP

Phil McKinney“Braden Kelley and his merry band of guest experts have done a nice job of visualizing in Charting Change how to make future change efforts more collaborative. Kelley shows how to draw out the hidden assumptions and land mines early in the change planning process, and presents some great techniques for keeping people aligned as a change effort or project moves forward.”

– Phil McKinney, retired CTO for Hewlett-Packard and author of Beyond the Obvious

Denise Fletcher“As the pace of change speeds up, the market disruptions and resulting changes can be daunting for all. We all wish we could predict how change will affect our business, our market and our people. No matter what business area you come from, change affects us all and can produce great outcomes when managed well. In Braden Kelley’s newest book, Charting Change, he provides a terrific toolkit to manage this process and make it stick.”

– Denise Fletcher, Chief Innovation Officer, Xerox

Marshall Goldsmith“Higher employee retention? Increased revenue? Process enhancements? Whatever your change goal, Charting Change is full of bright ideas and invaluable visual guides to walk you through change in any area where your organization needs it.”

– Marshall Goldsmith is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Triggers, MOJO and What Got You Here Won’t Get You There


Accelerate your change and transformation success

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The Benefits of Change Management for Project Managers

The Benefits of Change Management for Project Managers

GUEST POST from Chateau G Pato

Change management is becoming increasingly important for project managers in today’s fast-paced digital world. As more and more organizations adopt digital transformation strategies, project managers must be equipped to handle the changes that come along with it. Change management is the process of managing organizational change and helping people transition to the new normal. It involves analyzing the impact of the change, planning the implementation, communicating the plan, and monitoring progress. Change management can help project managers ensure that projects remain on track during periods of transition.

The benefits of change management for project managers can range from increased efficiency to improved morale. By using change management, project managers can ensure that the whole team is on the same page and that all stakeholders understand the implications of the changes. This helps to reduce the risk of miscommunication or misinterpretation of the new process, thus ensuring that projects stay on track. Additionally, change management can help project managers to reduce resistance to change, as employees can be provided with the support they need to adapt. This can help to improve morale, as employees feel like their voices are being heard and their concerns are being addressed.

Case Study 1: The UK National Health Service

The UK National Health Service is a good example of how change management can help project managers successfully tackle organizational change. The NHS recently implemented a large-scale digital transformation project, which included the introduction of new technology and processes. To ensure that the project ran smoothly, the NHS tapped into their existing change management process. This included creating a communication plan to ensure that stakeholders were informed of the changes, providing training for staff to help them adapt to the new system, and monitoring progress to ensure that the project stayed on track. Thanks to their effective change management process, the project was a success, and the NHS is now reaping the rewards of their digital transformation.

Case Study 2: Microsoft

Microsoft is another example of how change management can help project managers. Microsoft recently introduced a new organizational structure that was designed to improve efficiency and productivity. To ensure that the change was implemented smoothly, Microsoft applied their change management process. This included providing clear communication to stakeholders, offering training to ensure that employees were well-prepared, and monitoring progress to ensure that the transition was successful. The end result was a successful transition that has resulted in increased efficiency and improved morale.

Conclusion

In conclusion, change management is a valuable tool for project managers. By applying an effective change management process, project managers can ensure that projects remain on track during periods of transition. This can lead to increased efficiency, improved morale, and ultimately, a successful project.

Image credit: Pexels

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What is in a Project Charter?

What is in a Project Charter?

GUEST POST from Art Inteligencia

A project charter is an essential document used to define a project and ensure that all stakeholders are on the same page. It outlines the project’s purpose, goals, timelines, resources, and responsibilities, and serves as the foundation for successful project execution.

The most important element of a project charter is the scope. This section defines the scope of the project in terms of what will be done, the objectives to be achieved, and the deliverables expected. It also identifies any constraints or limitations that may affect the project.

The project charter also outlines the timeline and milestones for the project. This section lays out the start and end dates, as well as any major milestones, such as the completion of certain tasks or the delivery of specific deliverables.

The project charter also includes the roles and responsibilities of the stakeholders. This section outlines who is responsible for what, and who has authority over which decisions. It also defines the communication process between the stakeholders and outlines the decision-making process.

The resources section of the project charter lists the resources required to complete the project, such as personnel, materials, and equipment. It also outlines the budget for the project, including any costs associated with the resources.

Finally, the project charter includes the risks and assumptions associated with the project. This section identifies potential risks, such as changes in scope, resource constraints, or political changes, and outlines how they will be addressed. It also outlines any assumptions made during the project planning process.

A project charter is an important document that helps ensure that all stakeholders are on the same page and that the project is properly defined and managed. It outlines the scope, timeline, roles and responsibilities, resources, and risks and assumptions associated with the project, and serves as the foundation for successful project execution.

SPECIAL BONUS: You can get your very own copy of the Visual Project Charter™ for FREE for use as 35″x56″ giant poster or as a background to use in Miro, Mural, Lucidspark, Microsoft Whiteboard, Google Jamboard, etc. The Visual Project Charter™ was
created by Braden Kelley to help project managers set up their projects for greater success by beginning their project management efforts in a more visual, collaborative way.

The Visual Project Charter™ helps organizations:

  • Move beyond the Microsoft Word document
  • Make the creation of Project Charters more fun!
  • Kickoff projects in a more collaborative, more visual way
  • Structure dialogue to capture the project overview, project scope, project conditions and project approach

Image credit: Unsplash

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