In this Edition

Note From the Editor: Effective Communication: Reality or Illusion?

Feature Article: Create a Community of Best Practice

Events: Save $200 – WorkOut 2011 Early Bird Rate Now Available

Blog Posts: What Would Your Team Say if They Had a “Get Out of Jail FREE” Card?

Face-to-Face: Improving Project Communication

Getting the Right Information to the Right People

Effectively Planning and Communicating in Integration Management

Note From the Editor

Ok, so you’ve heard it over and over (and over) again: Communication is key. We all know this deep, down inside. The question is, do we really grasp the concept’s vitality enough to make sure we are maximizing our communication efforts within our projects? Or, do we all go about our projects assuming that good communication is taking place? The Irish literary critic and writer, George Bernard Shaw, said, “The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.” Too often we believe we have effectively communicated our goals and expectations for a project to our team members and stakeholders when, in reality, everyone has walked away with their own idea of what those expectations are. These often-missed miscommunications can cause mishaps in tasks and frustration within and amongst teams.

This week’s Newsletter focuses on communication in project teams. It will cover some of the things team members wish they could say to their managers, but probably never will, specific tactics for improving communication concerning projects, and how to get the right information to the right people. “Perfect” communication may be an impossible dream, but we can always be improving our own communication skills, which will inevitably help to improve communication in and the outcomes of the projects we undertake.

Feature Article

Create a Community of Best Practice

Social media provides a wealth of experiential-based knowledge that is freely shared with anyone willing to ask. I believe this type of knowledge sharing is critical as more and more organizations look to project management best practices to increase efficiency—yet turn to “accidental” project managers (those who may be lacking in formal project management training), for…

Read the complete article here

Events

Save $200 – WorkOut 2011 Early Bird Rate Now Available

Take advantage of the limited-time early bird rate of $599 (available until December 31, 2010) by registering now. Save an additional $100 (per person) by registering two or more people for WorkOut 2011.

A Global Gathering of Work Managers

The next generation AtTask User Conference has arrived! WorkOut 2011 is guaranteed to be bigger, better, and more fun than ever before. This conference will stimulate thought-provoking discussions aimed at giving you new, actionable, and innovative ideas about the way you manage work.

At WorkOut ’11 you’ll be able to:

• Participate in 50+ hours of product training, industry best practices, and new ways of managing work
• Maximize the value of your organization’s investment in AtTask
• Enjoy 20+ breakout sessions – designed to help you manage work more effectively
• Learn from industry thought-leaders, AtTask technology partners, and other AtTask users

Be sure to book your hotel stay at The Grand America Hotel, one of the finest hotels in the world, at the discounted rate of $169 (plus taxes) per night.

Mark your calendars today

Need more information? Click here

Blog Posts

What Would Your Team Say if They Had a “Get Out of Jail FREE” Card?

Telling off the boss is a fantasy shared by many employees, but most team members will never say anything for fear of repercussions. On the sly, CareerBuilder.com asked team members what they would say to their bosses if there were no consequences. These examples of “what your team members want to say, but probably never will,” could help you create an atmosphere where team members can freely discuss the challenges and successes they face…

Read the complete blog post here

Face-to-Face: Improving Project Communication

We live in a world of instantaneous communication. Cell phones, the Internet, text messaging, social media—all are designed to keep us connected and communicating. But does technology really make communication easier? It’s important to remember that we may be writing an email or updating a status report, but the person on the other end of that email or status report is a person. Here are a couple of techniques that can help you improve the quality of your project communication…

Read the complete blog post here

Getting the Right Information to the Right People

Successful communication requires effort. To ensure the successful completion of any project, you must focus your communication efforts on the important stakeholders that influence project success. Most executives want the 20,000-foot view—that’s all they normally have time for. Here are some good suggestions to help ensure the right information gets to the right people…

Read the complete blog post here

Effectively Planning and Communicating in Integration Management

Integration management is the knowledge area that includes processes that are required to ensure that all the projects components are coordinated and communicated correctly in order to achieve the project goals. Here are four communication tips that will help build team comradery and will help you be more effective in your next project…

Read the complete blog post here