Bill Yates

In the role of project manager, we present information to audiences quite often.  Here’s a reminder: if you have something to say, communicate with passion!  Say it like you mean it. Monday I was driving to work and listening to the 7am news on NPR (Na…

The PMP Certification is the leading professional credential–the stamp of approval–for career project managers.  But, is the PMP Certification right for you?  I’ll help you answer that question.  But, we’ll need to consider two follow-up questions: Is …

May is a month filled with graduations, ceremonies, and rites of passage.  Last Friday, our extended family was in Annapolis celebrating my nephew’s graduation and commissioning from the Naval Academy.  Whether he spends his career in the military or i…

Velociteach is proud to announce our collaboration with author and thought-leader Neal Whitten, PMP. Last fall, I had an epiphany. I was in New Orleans sitting in a lecture hall at the PMI Global Congress 2013.  Much to my amusement, Neal Whitten was c…

What happens after you pass the PMP® Exam?  You celebrate!!  You party like your hair is on fire.  You dance just like Will Smith and Jimmy Fallon.  You shout ecstatically from the top of your lungs, until your voice is reduced to a squeak of air…or th…

We can all agree that the ability to communicate effectively is a key to project management success. We know that Communications Management is 1 of 10 Knowledge Areas in the PMBOK® Guide.  And, we know that 90% of the job of the project manager involve…

Project Managers…I have an important question for you: how do you avoid burnout? From the look on my dad’s face in this photo, he has it figured out!  His only concern is the size of the hybrid bass on the other end of that line.  Dad is feeling …

I was stuck.  The partially completed Sudoku puzzle was mocking me.  It was not to be solved, and my brain was fried.  So, I gave in and put the puzzle down for the night.  Head hits pillow.  Press the reset button.  Sure enough, the solution came easi…

Many organizations aspire to be Lean, Green, and environmentally friendly.  Sadly, many others just want to keep reports of their poor performance off the headlines.  A recent news report from the Washington Times pointed a finger at the EPA – the Envi…

“NO WAY!!!  We must have a water leak.”  At 5:45 PM last Friday, my wife and I were at home, talking and opening the mail.  She was browsing through the typical invoices and junk, when she came upon the water bill… it was $300 for the prior month.  Yik…

What a remarkable way to start! Check out this 11-second video from a soccer game: (Click the image below or use this URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Fd0vN45fYM) Harrison is a 5-A high school in the state of Georgia – that’s a big school with toug…

“Our investigation will cover three areas: man, machine, and environment.” The NTSB investigator issued the sobering quote from the scene.  She was being interviewed at the site of a small plane crash.  People lost their lives in the accident, and the …

Does your team need some mojo? Do you need to baste, infuse, marinate, or somehow apply a secret ingredient to spice up the performance of your project team?  Yes?  Then, I’ve got a book for you. Get a copy of PEAK, by Chip Conley.  In his book, Conley…

Monday, I was headed to the airport to catch a flight.  A funny thing happened…and I was reminded how sticky technical debt can be. Southwest Airlines is an industry-leader and a fantastic organization.  I’m reading The Southwest Airlines Way right now…

Have you ever managed a project where you battled others for scarce resources?  Those resources may be human… you needed the best DBA, architect, or business analyst.  Or, those resources may not have a heartbeat… things like materials, equipment, or s…

The best PMs are Project Magicians.  These are project managers who pull cute bunnies from top hats; they turn lemons into lemonade; they convert dust and duct tape into shiny deliverables… and their Customers happily sell the bunnies, lemonade, and de…

“I love lamp.  I love lamp.” Brick Tamland voices his deep affection for an office lamp.  In this scene from the movie Anchorman, Ron Burgundy (Will Ferrell) is lost in romantic thought, waxing-poetic about his newfound love. In an attempt to enter int…

“I’m sorry – that was completely our fault. I will fix it.” Rare words from Customer Service, right?!  I heard them last week.  Admission of guilt.  Ownership of the issue.  Problem solving. That type of statement is music to the ears when you’re the C…

Mark Sanborn shared a very personal insight near the end of his keynote address at the recent PMI Global Congress. Mark has struggled with depression a few times in his adult life. This may come as a surprise, given that Mark is a very successful speak…

Mark Sanborn shared a very personal insight near the end of his keynote address at the recent PMI Global Congress. Mark has struggled with depression a few times in his adult life. This may come as a surprise, given that Mark is a very successful speak…