Why Social Networking Matters

If you didn't already get it in your inbox, make sure to check out our latest newsletter on why social networking matters.

Also, there are two free webcasts mentioned in the newsletter. You are invited to join!

Finally, don't miss the coupon code to get $50 USD off our e-learning on conflict management! Click here now to read the newsletter.

Labels: networking, relationships, social networking, webcasts

posted by Andy at 11:54 AM  

Do We Really Need Another Social Network? PPMNG!

So, I totally get that the last thing most of us need is yet another social network. It could be you've yet to jump into the fray and try one out. Perhaps you think they're a waste of time.

Or it could be you're in so many social networks that it feels like a burden to you. For the last year I've been focusing primarily on LinkedIn and Facebook. Without discipline any use of social networking can get out of hand.

"So add another one?"

If you're in a position or career track related to project management, I'm recommending "Yes."

Thanks to how easy (maybe too easy) it is to create a social network using the NING platform, there's a new network called the Professional Project Managers Networking Group (PPMNG). You can find it at http://www.ppmng.com/.

I've created two groups on PPMNG that I invite you to join: The People Side of Project Management and Certification Prep.

Next week I'll have a newsletter out that will talk about the pro's and con's of engaging in social networks. For now, I wanted to get the word out in case you haven't heard about PPMNG.

I'd tell you more but I have to get back to Twitter, or Facebook, or...... :)

Labels: networking, PMP certification, project management

posted by Andy at 3:16 PM  

Do You "Get" Twitter?

For months I watched my friend and colleague Ron send Twitter updates such as "Leaving for work" or "Traffic really nasty today." As much as I really like Ron, I had to wonder: does anyone really care that he overslept this morning?

For six months I didn't get Twitter. Against my better judgement I started using it. And now I get it. Finally.

The idea of Twitter is remarkably simple: answer the question "What are you doing?" in 140 characters or less (each update is referred to as a tweat).

What seemed like an impersonal platform for the self-obsessed suddenly became a tool to bring me closer to people I care about.

Are there people you'd like to stay in touch with but there's no way you would call them or e-mail them daily?

My sisters come to mind. I got them to start tweating as well and now I've never been more in the know about what's going on with them and their families. In fact, I even call them more often. Even my dad in his mid-70's is tweating. By integrating Flickr and Twitter we're sharing memories more easily than ever.

Can it work beyond close family and friends? Absolutely. Imagine getting short updates from team members, particularly when you are not co-located. Business owners can use Twitter to develop closer relationships with customers. There are some intriguing possibilities.

I encourage you to try it. Sign up for Twitter for free at http://www.twitter.com/. Invite some people you want to stay in touch with. Keep in mind that they'll probably look at you funny and think you have way too much time on your hands.

That's OK. But once they get it, you'll be glad you started.

You can find me on Twitter with the user name "andy_kaufman". Happy Tweating!

P.S. As with any social networking tool, Twitter can be a major distraction to your attempts to manage your time. Contact me for some ideas on how to avoid that.

Another P.S. Click here to find out how Ron is doing. :)

Labels: networking, teambuilding, tools I love

posted by Andy at 1:56 PM  

So Much To Do, So Little Time

"So much to do. So little time."

It's the theme song of most professionals these days. "How can I keep up with what's most important when there's just so much to do?"

A recent CIO Magazine cover story laid out twenty of their best tips to invest 20 minutes wisely. Though they may overstate them as "20 minute miracles", the article has value for those seeking some relief from overloaded in-boxes and towering to-do lists.

Some highlights include:

• #2: The Mini-Meeting. We regularly coach leaders to be more aggressive in cutting the length of time dedicated to meetings. In our experience, recurring meetings are often the biggest culprits in wasting time. Though I rarely recommend trashing them (as suggested in the article), cutting their duration in half is a great place to start. Need some motivation? Take the hourly rate of everyone in those recurring meetings, and multiply that over the course of a year. Ouch! That's an expensive meeting!


• #7: Life Without E-Mail. Though I haven't found "Zero E-Mail Friday" practical (as suggested in the article), there is so much opportunity to be more efficient with our favorite tool to hate. My book How to Organize Your Inbox & Get Rid of E-mail Clutter can help you and your team save time and reduce the stress of e-mail overload.


• #8: Say Yes to Staff Training. OK, so you might suspect self-interest in my highlighting this one! But just this week I had participants in a project management workshop exclaim how techniques they learned will save them time. And training doesn't always have to take a big bite out of your time! Our Leadership Fast Track Program meets for 2 hours or less, 8 times between June and October. By spreading out the learning into smaller increments, we find you not only save time, but actually apply the learning. And since I facilitate it over the web, you're not wasting time traveling to a training facility. In fact, you can participate from anywhere in the world!


• #13: What's So Funny About Company Peace, Love, and Understanding? Basically this tip comes down to finding ways to get exposure to other departments. In our leadership keynotes and workshops we talk about practical ways to make this happen, and the advantages for you and others. Contact me to learn how we can help you improve your influence and exposure within the organization.
  

So much to do? So little time? We can help you sing a different song: Get more done, with less stress! Check out our Leadership Fast Track Program for details.

Labels: leadership, learning, networking, time management, work/life balance

posted by Andy at 3:14 PM