What is the Role of a Project Manager? Are you thinking about becoming a Project Manager or wondering about the type of work they do?

Project Managers have several roles to play. I take you through the 8 things every project manager needs to master.

Having trouble getting this started or completing projects? I have 7 tips for you to get you back on track and lots of resources you can use to make you more effective, efficient and successful.

The Rational Unified Process is the ultimate guide for assigning tasks and responsibilities within a development organization and creating high-quality software that satisfies its users' demands and expectations. The RUP method helps focus your team on the project objectives and

Kanban has some unique features that can help project team work more efficiently and effectively. Virtually any project or team can use this method to track tasks and status. Learn the benefits and consider if this method is right for your Project. This article is part of the Project Management Fundamentals Series.

The RACI Matrix documents each person's role and responsibilities on a project. A basic skill of every project manager is to clarify how the team will work and who does what. And long time Project Manager’s know that transparency and communication creates High Performing teams. It does not matter what phase your project is in, a RACI Matrix will help. It just takes a process and a format. Let me show you how.

The Agile and Scrum methods represent the current thinking in Project Management for projects that require collaborative, fast-paced solution design and build. Get the details on how to use the Agile and Scrum processes on your next Project. Find out:

• How the Agile Approach can fast track your project

• How to set up your Scrum processes

• The Start to Finish steps to a Sprint

Project Culture is often misunderstood or overlooked completely. But Culture counts. Project Managers can improve the individual contribution of each team member by taking a few points into consideration and building a team that understands the culture of its people, location, organization, and project team. Learn the keys to cultural complexity and understand how you can use them to make your project better.

Do you think that Program Managers and Project Managers essentially do the same work? Yes and No. I break it all down and show you how focus, targets, skills and salary make these separate roles with separate goals. 

They both deliver business value using organizational resources. But the differences are huge in terms of complexity, scope, and results. How do these Managers build their skills and get the resume needed to get the job?

Team Roles are more than classifications, they are part of what sets your Project up for success. An important job of any Project Manager is getting Staff with the “right stuff”. Projects succeed or fail based on the right team with a clear way of working. Get the information you need to ensure everyone knows their role. See how two kinds of Frameworks create different team dynamics. Understand how complementary skills benefit the final results of your project.

Is Project Management Certification worth the effort, time and cost? Yes! But getting the right Certification is important. And which Certification depends on your personal goals. I have done the homework for you, you just need to decide where you want to focus.

Which option fits your personal goals and career path best? Which will your employer compensate you for? Find the right Certification to help you with your journey to success.

Why does your Project need a Contract? How do you get started? I cover the essentials to When, Who, How and explain Contract concepts every Project Manager needs to understand. Get the Free downloadable guide to get the steps and check lists for your next project contract conversation.

How can a leader build a high-performing team? There are 5 behaviors that any project manager will want to foster in their team. Find out what they are, why they are important, and how to build them in your team.

Project failures. Nobody likes to talk about them, but they happen. I am going to tell you what can happen (and has happened to me in my years of project managing) and how to avoid the top pitfalls, and what do to fix them if they do happen.

Be prepared and learn from the mistakes so that you don’t have to suffer through them yourself.

Managing a project is easier with the right tools. Get the free PM Toolkit Template and the Reference Completed Examples. See how these tools work in the blog or video. Download your free copy to Fasttrack your Project Start. Use the Toolkit as is. Or use only the documents you need (like the excel Budget and Staff planning calculator with built in KPI’s). Or maybe just use it for inspiration to get you started. Either way these tools help you to improve your project overview and increase your confidence to manage a project.

Budgets can be complex. How to simplify the project and break down the steps? Read more to get the tips and templates you will need to create, review, and track your project’s budget. Example Budgets with detailed calculations are included.