Project Management Speaker Excellence

Last night, at the Southern New England Chapter of PMI (SNEC-PMI) in Meriden, Connecticut, our speaker addressed the topic of a schedule. All PMP's and Project Managers know that the basis to manage any project is a project schedule. On the face of it, this topic seemed to be a non-starter for experienced Project Managers like myself.

However, as the presenter acknowledged the fact that all of us have mastered schedules, she further reinforced the need to constantly reinforce the basics of our Profession. Comments of "She is so right", and "Amen" were heard around my table as we nodded in agreement. Sometimes, in the heat of the project we all tend to buckle under the pressure from project sponsors and devote all attention to putting out the hottest fire while allowing the project schedule to become out of date. Without a current schedule, our project soon becomes unmanageable and easily meanders off track.

This is the same in speaking. Just because you know the basics, such as to "Speak hungry" and to drink 1/2 a gallon of water every day, doesn't mean that you are not tempted to sometimes speak after consuming a hearty bowl of pasta. The basics are the basics because they are the basics. This holds true in Project Management and in Public Speaking.

I cover many of the basics of public speaking in my new audio CD for Professional and Public Speakers in most situations.

P.S. As usual, the presenters PowerPoint slides left much room for improvement. I am too drained of blogging on the topic of text-laden and eye-chart slides to comment on yet another terrible waste of a projector bulb.