Dealing with Difficult People - The Results

Twyla's workshop was an outstanding success. Twyla Southall is a fabulous presenter and a boon to the Project Management community. She kept us entertained during the whole workshop while we discussed tips and techniques to deal with difficult people.

Fortunately, Twyla confirmed that none of us in the room are difficult people. It is only the people on our projects, our spouses and the other drivers who are difficult.

Seriously though, we learned that our different personalities are often at the root of difficulties. As such, we can help ourselves and other by learning the differences in personalities and monitoring our reactions to our "Hot buttons".

If you ever get the chance, attend one of Twyla's workshops. You will be glad you did.

Announcing the Project Manager Support Group

I see and feel the pressures that Project Managers are facing in 2009. Budgets that were slashed in the last few years have been decimated. Workforce reduction, restructuring and no end in sight to the increased project demands make it tough for Project Managers to keep a clear head and stay focused on delivering the best results.

To do my bit in helping the Project Management Profession move forward and support my fellow Project Managers, I am now offering facilitated Project Manager Support Groups. You can read all about it here.

The cost to you for participation in a PMS Group is a mere $200 donation to Foodshare. (Foodshare is my favorite charity). This is an excellent investment and the value you will get from participating in a PMS Group will far exceed your small donation.

If you are interested in creating win/win/win situations, then email me, and we can decide if you would be a good fit for an upcoming PMS Group.

Dealing with Difficult People

Don't we all have difficult people in our lives? Sometimes it is a team member, sometimes it is a manager or stakeholder.

I am attending an all day workshop with Twyla Southall on 3/26/2009 in Farmington, CT and the title is "Dealing with Difficult People". If all goes well, then I will be knowledgeable after the workshop and equipped to deal with difficult people that I come across in my project management trails.

As a quick update on another project - I have interviewed seasoned Project Managers and discussed the key factors that make a PM successful, what PM leaders look for when hiring a Project Manager and truckloads of other gems. I am feverishly working on compiling the results of my research into articles and papers. Expect more on this in the next few weeks.

Congratulations to Dylan Jennings

I just returned from the Eagle Scout award ceremony for Dylan Jennings of Troop 880 in South Windsor, CT. Fabulous event and well deserved award. It is nice to see our mayor - Cary Prague present an award on behalf of the town and Bill Aman present on behalf of the Connecticut state legislature.

I am learning about Boy Scouts of America and like what I see. I was not involved in Scouts in South Africa and scouting does not provide the value that Scouts enjoy in the USA.

Soon, the weather will be warm enough for a South African like me to venture on a camping trip. I have not yet accepted the concept of going camping in the snow. Summer time camping will be a different story. I enjoyed the summer outdoors during my time in the South African Defense Force in the late 1980's and am looking forward to summer camping in Connecticut as well, 20 years later.

How do you know it is a good week?

This week the US Stock market showed signs of improvement. We are heading towards Spring in Connecticut and the worst of the cold is behind us for this year. Life is good in the Botha family.

Yesterday I caught a few sentences of a news broadcast as I walked past the TV. The anchor proclaimed that International stock markets ended the day in positive territory, mortgage rates are steady and, I quote "GM did not need a bailout this week".

Thus, every week that GM doesn't need a bailout, is a good week?

PowerPoint Live 2009

I just heard that PowerPoint Live 2009 will be held on Oct 11-14 in Atlanta GA. Check it out at the conference website: http://www.pptlive.com/.

I believe that the more we can collectively do to improve PowerPoints, the better place the world will be. Who cares about the stimulus package when you are thinking about poking your eyes out in yet another text laden presentation?

The PowerPoint Live conference also includes a contest. Please see all the details below, and consider attending this conference.

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For the fifth consecutive year, the PowerPoint Live User Conference is holding its Design-a-Template contest, with a free trip to the fall event being awarded to the person whose work is chosen to serve as the conference template.

The conference has received over 300 entries across the last four and a half years, spanning all software versions and many design motifs. The contest's legacy includes brilliant work by exceptionally talented people, as well as a bit of comic relief by those who just wanted to be part of the experience...not unlike those who audition for American Idol.

"We have had our share of pranksters" notes conference host Rick Altman, "and that has prompted us to assign the roles of Randy, Paula, and Simon to our own judges. Mostly, though, we have seen truly incredible work submitted and even feel as if we have been responsible for watching a few stars be born."

The judging panel is comprised of a select group of conference regulars, including Richard Bretschneider, Senior Program Manager for PowerPoint at Microsoft, slide:ology author Nancy Duarte, indezine editor Geetesh Bajaj, prominent slide designer Julie Terberg, and several other members of Microsoft's Most Valued Professional team of support specialsts. Evidently, the specific roles of Simon and Paula remain a closely-guarded secret.

"The challenge to this contest," says Altman, "is the requirement that our slide design serve as the backdrop for all of the great ideas and visuals put forth by our presenters. In order to be a contender, a design needs to wear well for eight hours a day across three days. Contest participants want to be noticed, we get that, but their designs need to succeed in staying subtle and playing the supporting role. That's not so easy."


Deadline for entries is Friday, June 5 and the contest is open to anyone.

Contest rules:http://www.pptlive.com/contest.htm
Gallery of past winners and entrants: http://snipurl.com/ppt_contest
Conference website: http://www.pptlive.com/
Online link to this article: http://www.betterppt.com/press/contest_mar12-09.htm
Contact: Rick Altman Conference Host 925.600.PRESENT (600.7737) powerpointlive@altman.com

Certified Project Manager Problems

I am looking to speak with IT Project Managers, including PMP's who are facing challenges and problems on projects.

I am conducting research for a series of articles and possibly a book detailing current problems that IT Project Managers of all flavors face and proven strategies in response to these problems.

If you are an IT Project Manager who is facing challenges on your project, or struggling to make decisions, or know someone who is facing challenges on IT projects, then please email me.

We can schedule time that is mutually convenient for us to discuss your challenges and possibly investigate solutions together. Of course, everything is completely confidential and I won't use material for my articles without your approval.

Send your phone number, name, best time to call to wayne@bothaconsulting.com.

Getting Published - one day seminar with Claudia Gere

My friend - Claudia Gere, is holding a one day seminar to help smart people become authors. If you are writing a book or want to write a book then you should be speaking to Claudia.

Claudia can help you through the process of writing your book yourself and also discuss options such as ghostwriting and promotion. A ghost writer may be a viable option for you, if you are simply too busy to write or don't have the inclination to put your words into a computer.

Claudia has is an experienced publisher, professional speaker and book coach. She will help you with all aspects of your book so that you can get your message published and do your piece to make our world a better place.

Details of Claudia's seminar are here: http://www.claudiagereco.com/Workshop.html


Don't miss this opportunity if you:

o Have many ideas, but don't know which one to choose

o Aren't sure that what you have to say is new or different

o Have trouble finding time to write

o Wonder if you should bother--it's so difficult to get published!

o Don't know where to begin or how to write a book

o Have started writing over and over again