Sitting in the corner looking pretty

Send us Fan Mail Getting paid for what you do is a common problem in projects and projects led business both for the supplier (producer) and buyer (client). I use agreements as a tool for good not an obstruction and trip hazard. Always get one, just don't overcomplicate it. Works for me, could for you. In my latest series, series 4 of of Sitting in the corner looking pretty, I delve into some...

Send us Fan Mail Series 4 is all about costs control and budget busting ......... ideas, thoughts, techniques and things you could do, to make you projects financially successful.  Both as a user/client and supplier/producer. In this episode I look at how you can implement cost control that works through one simple way.  Implementing spending caps and control is an important part of cost control b...

Send us Fan Mail Series 4 is all about costs control and budget busting ......... ideas, thoughts, techniques and things you could do, to make you projects financially successful.  Both as a user/client and supplier/producer. In this episode I look at how you can control costs through using the natural flow of a project to the projects and the businesses benefit.  Its tempting to say that you shou...

Send us Fan Mail Series 4 is all about costs control and budget busting ......... ideas, thoughts, techniques and things you could do, to make you projects financially successful.  Both as a user/client and supplier/producer. In this episode I look at how you can control hours spent on a project.  Extra time spent has the double trouble effect of costing more and extending the program.  Its one of...

Send us Fan Mail Series 4 is all about costs control and budget busting ......... ideas, thoughts, techniques and things you could do, to make you projects financially successful.  Both as a user/client and supplier/producer. In this episode I look at how to manage a budget from a lump sum.  Something that happens a lot and has great opportunities but can also go horribly wrong and have serious co...

Send us Fan Mail Series 4 is all about costs control and budget busting ......... ideas, thoughts, techniques and things you could do, to make you projects financially successful.  Both as a user/client and supplier/producer. In this episode I look at how you can get a clear picture of the costs right from the start even if the scope and especially the detail is still to be developed.  Join me as...

Send us Fan Mail Series 4 is all about costs control and budget busting ......... ideas, thoughts, techniques and things you could do, to make you projects financially successful.  Both as a user/client and supplier/producer. In this episode I look at the most important thing to control costs and budgets and dive a bit deeper into why and how.  Join me for a brief explanation and examples and mayb...

Send us Fan Mail Series 4 is all about costs control and budget busting ......... ideas, thoughts, techniques and things you could do, to make you projects financially successful.  Both as a user/client and supplier/producer. In this episode I look at why financial result vary so much from project to project and what I think is the most important way to make them consistent.  Join me as I explain...

Send us Fan Mail Estimating in projects .. it’s a minefield and no one thanks you if they are wrong, even though they are estimates. This week a technique that can help you get the more right that will benefit both the project and business. Tune in for a short session to explain PERT and how it can help elevate your projects and business.  You won’t want to miss this explanation of an estimating t...

Send us Fan Mail Is this ultimate project monitoring technique worth your time and efforts? Discover the answer in this episode of "Sitting in the Corner Looking Pretty," I unravel the secrets behind this project management item as to how it could change your game for the better or be impossible to implement.  Whether you're igniting your management career or trying to get ultimate...

Send us Fan Mail Is the standard quintessential project management technique really that essential or should you not bother. Discover the answer in this episode of "Sitting in the Corner Looking Pretty," I unravel the secrets behind this iconic project management item as to how it can be the bedrock for managing your projects and businesses to higher levels or consume wasted time and res...

Send us Fan Mail A bill of quantities has more benefits than you think and are nothing to be scared of. Find out this week how they can help you improve your project and business results either as a supplier or a user. Try it, use it, benefit from it. Many don’t! AN EVEN BETTER WAY  - COWSHED PROJECTS  VALUE FOCUSED PROJECT MANAGEMENT - TO MAKE YOUR MANAGEMENT OF PROJECTS AND PROFITS BETTER.    Fo...

Send us Fan Mail Series 3 continues with a technique that is more associated with the business but equally important to a project and can be a helpful way to manage them. Cash flows .... not just show you that you are cash positive (or negative) but also progress, issues and maybe more. On certain projects you can run them via a cash flow as the base information. Its a underused but extremely effe...

Send us Fan Mail Series 3 continues with a communication technique that will make everyone's life better. SMART or specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time bound. Is an extremely effective communication technique.  It is simple ensuring that your requests for information and instructions meet all those criteria. In ensuring that they do, you will make the information you get back b...

Send us Fan Mail This new series continues with a technique that can help you make decisions better and give leaders more time back. You may not think of this as a technique but it is openly documenting those internalised thoughts that dictate how you make a decision so you don't have to make that decision. Value setting is a way of documenting what you want to get out of a project, for the b...

Send us Fan Mail This new series continues with a technique that is obvious but not used enough.  An agreement. You may not think of this as a technique becuase its so obvious, but it is a powerful technique to allow control and clarity, enabling projects to progress more efficently. An agreement is something that is documented that indicates what work will be done within what parameters and for w...

Send us Fan Mail This new series continues with a technique that is might not tell you what you want but is invaluable in knowing and finding out what is possible.  A work break down structure. A work break down structure gives you answers and helps you find solution.  It can give your project clarity and your business reassurance.  It really can be a magic wand. The series explores simples techni...

Send us Fan Mail This new series starts with a technique that is often missed and could save you frustration and costs if used in a collaborative, measurable manner that it can be. A scope of works defines what is to be done and why so that all parties get clarity and achievable direction. The series explores simples techniques that can be implemented to help your project and business be more effi...

Send us Fan Mail Do you ever find that you end up doing things yourself or the things you do to help don’t make things better! It’s not your fault but here’s a way to reduce the likelihood of these things happening on your project and in your business. Getting you even better results and outcomes. AN EVEN BETTER WAY  - COWSHED PROJECTS  VALUE FOCUSED PROJECT MANAGEMENT - TO MAKE YOUR MANAGEMENT OF...

Send us Fan Mail This episode I talk about bias and at a high level, how it can affect your project and business and stop them being the best they can.  Plus some simple ways just to check you aren’t loosing out. AN EVEN BETTER WAY  - COWSHED PROJECTS  VALUE FOCUSED PROJECT MANAGEMENT - TO MAKE YOUR MANAGEMENT OF PROJECTS AND PROFITS BETTER.    For the project and the business.  For SME's and...

Send us Fan Mail This week I talk about the slowest hiker on your project and in your business.  What is it, How to deal with it and how the slowest hiker element can make your projects go quicker. AN EVEN BETTER WAY  - COWSHED PROJECTS  VALUE FOCUSED PROJECT MANAGEMENT - TO MAKE YOUR MANAGEMENT OF PROJECTS AND PROFITS BETTER.    For the project and the business.  For SME's and accidental pro...

Send us Fan Mail As a business leader and a project leader there always seems to be a conflict between what you want and what you get. Why? This episode delves into 2 factors that make a business and project different to help you understand why things might not happen as you want. AN EVEN BETTER WAY  - COWSHED PROJECTS  VALUE FOCUSED PROJECT MANAGEMENT - TO MAKE YOUR MANAGEMENT OF PROJECTS AND PRO...

Send us Fan Mail This week is all about giving you less to do.  It’s possibly a brave step that will be hard to take but once you do you’ll see the benefits both for your projects, your business and most importantly yourself. AN EVEN BETTER WAY  - COWSHED PROJECTS  VALUE FOCUSED PROJECT MANAGEMENT - TO MAKE YOUR MANAGEMENT OF PROJECTS AND PROFITS BETTER.    For the project and the business.  For S...

Send us Fan Mail The default setting when something happens or needs to happen is helplessness.  It maybe only a passing feeling or it maybe a longer term trough.  The key is to recognise it and use it.   Delve in a bit further in this podcast. AN EVEN BETTER WAY  - COWSHED PROJECTS  VALUE FOCUSED PROJECT MANAGEMENT - TO MAKE YOUR MANAGEMENT OF PROJECTS AND PROFITS BETTER.    For the project and t...

Send us Fan Mail We all have personalities, even if it’s not that easy to always get on with.  But so do a business, maybe not quite in the same way but they do.   This episode’s delves into how that manifests itself and how you can use it to make better projects and results for your business. AN EVEN BETTER WAY  - COWSHED PROJECTS  VALUE FOCUSED PROJECT MANAGEMENT - TO MAKE YOUR MANAGEMENT OF PRO...