When a company needs to get a high profile project to the finish line, they call in Court to get the job done. Court has been a PM for over 15 years, working with companies like Johnson & Johnson, TD, BMO, Scotiabank, Ogilvy, Canadian Tire, the DMZ and others. Damian asked Court to come in and share his story, some of his best PM best practices, and give YOU the chance to ask a real-world PM some of your questions.

Project Management = Managing people in team

Product Management = Managing the process

How To Be A Good Project Manager

• Fail early and fast
• Don’t tell someone how to do their job, instead encorage them in a positive way
• Ask them what do you think we should do to work towards the goal (measuring people with their own level)
• Think of youself as their coach, but still hold them accountable
• Never focus too deep into the details but the outcome and value
• Active listening, have them reiterate the goal so make sure you are both working on their same thing
• Ask them what they need, and if you give it to them, what value does it bring you (what will they do with it)
• Set milestones ... how can you hit a target you cannot see? Put hype behind it, get them motivated!
• Set-up regular feedback loops with customer, so they can see what they are getting

How To Run An Effective Meeting

• Firstly, make a team agreement respected by the whole team, adaptable, and understood (make your own team artifact)
• With this, you can hold people accountable based on their own words
• Avoid negativity as much as possible. It will also sap your energy and time