Approach
My approach to working with clients is grounded in my commitment to always be a person of integrity and to respect other people. I carefully listen and analyze your needs to ensure that we’re aligned about the expected results. I leverage my experience and skills to deliver the outcomes that you need when you need them.
My Guiding Values
I believe that trust-based relationships are the foundation of successful work efforts. I strive to establish and maintain the SMART Conversations principles of Shared Meaning, Authenticity, Respect and Trust with all colleagues.
To collaborate effectively with stakeholders, I determine the best way to communicate and work with each of them. I listen and respond to their concerns, and ensure that the right information is shared with them at the right time.
My goal is to help nonprofits increase their organizational capacity by creating a project management culture. I’ll match your commitment and drive, and together we’ll deliver the vital services that are critical to your constituencies.
Expected Results
Working with me will help to deliver your project outcomes more efficiently. By continuously engaging and communicating with stakeholders they’ll know the answer to the age-old question “What’s In It for Me?” This will help to keep them actively engaged and aligned on project scope, and result in more camaraderie and less stress for everyone.
I’ll work with your team to develop realistic project plans. The key elements of the plan are the schedule, scope, communication and risk management documents. They’ll learn how to use the plan to guide execution and keep the project on track.
These key planning documents reflect the major responsibilities of project managers. I’ll coach them to pro-actively and continuously communicate with stakeholders to ensure that the project scope is well-understood and that risks are analyzed and mitigated before they become issues.
My Approach
I start by understanding your organization’s vision and mission, and its people. Then I learn about your strategic goals, program services, key operations, and culture. I work to understand project goals and stakeholder business requirements, and keep the team focused on them throughout the project.
Project management practices are sometimes thought to be process for the sake of process. It shouldn’t be about checking the box or filling out another useless form. We’ll work together to determine how much process your organization can absorb and balance the right amount of process with action and results.
My “just enough planning” and “get it done” attitudes will make your projects and programs successful. I understand the value of planning, but am action-oriented. My coaching will help project leaders to understand the importance of planning, and what and how to plan. But, equally important, we’ll focus on delivering the goods through effective project execution.
How I’m Unique
I bring a unique skill set that your organization may lack. I have more than thirty years of experience as an accomplished leader. I attribute my success in deploying projects to my ability to boil down the theories and best practices into tactical approaches that are proven to work; I’ll help you to immediately apply these tactics in your nonprofit.
I’m a certified SMART Conversations® (SC) facilitator. SC is a proven methodology that enables people to effectively collaborate, learn from each other and hold difficult conversations in a psychologically safe environment. The SC core conditions of Shared Meaning, Authenticity, Respect and Trust are critical for project managers as they focus on the emotional intelligence skills necessary to successfully complete projects. SMART Conversations® is a particularly valuable tool in cultures that tend to be non-confrontational, as employees are inclined to avoid rather than address issues that risk hurt feelings.
Above all, I’m flexible. Different clients need different things. One size does not fit all. I offer a variety of services (see Services link below) that address a wide variety of issues, and approach each assignment with the goal of producing sustainable results for your organization with the least amount of struggle.