New Web Tool- Zapproved

If you are following the new web 2.0 tools and how office life is supposed to be easy, here's another for you.

To read more about Zaaproved, read the special review by Elizabeth Harrin here. It's a cloud application, yes CLOUD. Just incase you have been hearing about it and don't know exactly what it means, you can try out Wikipedia. 

(Picture: Google Images)

Who is a PM?

A Warrior and a Healer. 

Says John Caroll in his Blog. For so many of us, who want to be full fledged PM, it's a great lesson. To know how to act, when to act and to find the perfect timing to retreat back and let the rest just happen.

Easier said than done, I know it is really hard. This is exactly where the experience comes in. Your action speaks of your ability as a PM and I have faltered at it so many times and then regretted later about my actions. 

As John Caroll says - 

"The project manager can act as a warrior or as a healer. As a warrior, showing power and decision, he displays the Yang or masculine aspect of leadership. But most of the time the project manager acts as a healer in an open, receptive and nourishing way. Providing help and assistance to the team members and encouraging them to do their work for the benefit of the project. This is the feminine or Yin aspect of leadership. This mixture of doing and being can be very productive.

The third aspect of leadership is the Tao. From time to time the project manager needs to withdraw from the team and return to silence. Be there, do it and then withdraw to replenish the spirit, which is the way of the project manager. Knowing when to act, when to listen and when to withdraw is the way. I know this for this is the way of the project manager."

Finally, the Lao Tsu saying:

Know the strength of man,
But keep a woman’s care!
Be the stream of the universe!
Being the stream of the universe,
Ever true and unswerving,
Become as a little child once more.

Know the white,
But keep the black!
Be an example to the world!
Being an example to the world,
Ever true and unswerving,
Return to the infinite.

Know honour,
Yet keep humility.
Be the valley of the universe!
Being the valley of the universe,
Ever true and resourceful,
Return to the state of the uncarved block.

When the block is carved, it becomes useful.
When the sage uses it, he becomes the ruler.
Thus “A great tailor cuts little.”

I think I'm just going to print this out and pin it on my board. Thanks John for the great posting!

My Work Space

Any work space whether in office or home in most cases is the reflection of your image. Your work style can easily be  evaluated by simply visiting your cubicle or desk. 

Here is my list of desk accessories at work:  

• A calendar
• A pen holder that says- share a smile
• A quotation by Patt Summit pinned on my board, says “You can choose to settle down for mediocrity, never venturing forth much effort or feeling very much or you can commit. If you commit, I guarantee you that, for every pain, you will experience an equal or surpassing pleasure.”
• A white board with projects names and the to-do list for the day/week.
• Artificial plant in a glass tumbler filled with multicolored beads
• A coaster (with an orange and steel color theme)
• My blackberry
• PM process chart
  
• Couple of coffee and subway menu/s in a see through folder 

(Picture: google images)

Relationship Management for Managers

Out of the 10 articles I have read in the last 2days, perhaps 8 of them talk about networking. 

I know it's necessary, so do you. What about it? If you read my review for Beyond Code; see the Take Home section at the end of the review.

Relationship Journal is what the book and the author Rajesh Setty emphasizes. It's a must and you cant go wrong if you can maintain it. Sure I read the book, I even tried reviewing it. So, did I start keeping a  Relationship Journal? Yes, I just did.

I read Alec Satin's post this morning about Highrise and guess what, I signed up for Highrise! This is really cool and I must tell - you are free to sign up for a  FREE account. You get to keep 250 contacts and can upgrade to the paid version if you think it's necessary. So, I created mine and added Alec as my first contact. Well, he told me about it.

So, begins my relationship journal. 

I have used similar version for the project communication at work, never for my personal contact management. It's a great tool and am glad I signed up.

Here's the link, just incase you would like to see how it works.

(Picture: Google Images)

Ten traits of a PM

Alec Satin talks about the Traits of a successful PM, in his blog.

Very interesting read and must share with everyone who wants to be one. Here are the 10 pointers from the Guru:

1. Develop a consistently positive attitude.
2. Make wise choices.
3. Believe in your abilities.
4. Be a master at setting goals and achieving them.
5. Have a clear vision of what success means to you and to your project.
6. Develop steady, positive habits.
7. Show persistence.
8. Over-communicate.
9. Be transparent.
10. Do what you say you will do without exception.

To learn more keep reading.