Management, Coaching, Consulting, Project services

While reviewing my previous posts on mentoring, I realised some might get confused with the difference between mentoring and coaching, and the role of management in the context. Here are a few considerations for you to take into account when assessing what type of relation to request/create: 1. Mentoring Mentoring is a nurturing relationship where an experienced individual (mentor) imparts knowledge, advice, and insights to a less experienced individual (mentee). It focuses on long-term personal and professional growth, extending beyond immediate goals to encompass broader career and life aspirations . Key points about mentoring: Holistic Approach : Mentoring aims to develop the whole person, considering both professional and personal aspects. Wisdom Transfer : Mentors share their expertise, experiences, and life lessons. Relationship-Building : Trust and rapport are essential for effective mentoring. 2. Coaching Coaching is a structured proces...

Communicating Like a Human (Not a Robot) Communication isn’t just about exchanging words - it’s about connection. It’s how we share ideas, build trust, and move forward together. When done well, it can transform a team from a group of individuals into a cohesive, motivated force. In this chapter, I want to share a few techniques that have helped me - and that I believe can help any leader create a more open, engaged, and emotionally intelligent work environment. Let me start with a confession: assertiveness used to terrify me. I remember one moment vividly. I was leading a workshop with a group of senior professionals, and halfway through, someone challenged my approach - politely, but firmly. My heart raced. I knew I had to respond, but I also knew that if I let my emotions take over, I’d either shut down or become defensive. Neither would help. So I took a breath, grounded myself, and said, “I hear your concern. Let’s explore it together.” That moment taught me that assertiveness isn...

 A s a new project manager, understanding  Gantt charts  is essential for effective project planning and management. Let’s dive into what Gantt charts are, how they look, how to identify key elements, common mistakes to avoid, and some useful references. What Is a Gantt Chart? A  Gantt chart  is a powerful project management tool that visually represents project activities over time. It provides a clear timeline, allowing project professionals to monitor progress, allocate resources, and manage dependencies. Here’s a concise definition: Gantt Chart : A graphical representation of activity against time, showing tasks, start and end dates, dependencies, and task ownership. Project milestone : a key event or action that signifies a significant stage of progress. It can denote the start or finish of a project, completion of a major task, or any other noteworthy achievement. Milestones help track project progress and ensure alignment with project goals. ...

We are all going through stressful situations and times. Yet, some handle better the stress, while others tend to stick into the complaining mode. I was actually these days in one such meeting, and it was really interesting to observe the tone and message of the various people when they were raising issues in a large audience: some brought up issues and tried to listen and understand the answers, while others were just continuing to ramble with their own minor issue (which was, of course, exploding in their face). So I was a bit puzzled why this was happening, and starting to search to learn and understand how to handle these reactions. Whining vs. Venting: What’s the Difference? Whining: Attitude : Whining typically stems from a negative attitude. It’s repetitive, unproductive complaining without seeking solutions. Focus : Whiners often focus on problems without considering potential fixes. Energy Drain : Whining drains energy from both the complainer and...

Project Initiation: Laying the Foundation for Success As a new manager embarking on a fresh project, the initial steps you take are crucial. Project initiation sets the tone for the entire endeavor, ensuring that you build a solid foundation and align your efforts with organizational goals. In this article, we’ll explore the essential aspects of project initiation and provide a practical guide to kickstart your project effectively. 1. Understand the Why Before diving into the nitty-gritty details, pause and reflect on the purpose of your project. What problem does it solve? What value will it bring to the organization? Clearly articulate the business case for your project. This understanding will guide your decisions throughout the project lifecycle. 2. Secure Buy-In Project initiation involves more than just paperwork. It’s about securing buy-in from key stakeholders. Engage with decision-makers, sponsors, and influencers. Explain why this project matters and how it...

I got asked recently for secrets for being liked/appreciated by people/colleagues, and how to reach a high level of confidence. That's a tough question to answer, and didn't know what to say: just be yourself, talk to people etc., so really non-relevant stuff. And it stayed like this, until I've read through some pages of this book:  Louder than words . And I then realized that there are several things that can make you look confident, make yourself liked and appreciated by the others, more than anything else. Here they are (and don't take them as truth until you verify them yourself): - have a positive state of mind - take care of what your attitude says to the others - smile - really smile when you meet someone, to show how you feel about them - be genuinely interested in what the other has to tell you, and show it! - posture and stance tell a whole lot about your confidence levels - your movements contribute as well to say the right message (if they need a...

I think this is one of the most difficult things one can do for others - and on the other hand the easiest. It's very risky - and it's also very rewarding. It enables you to sort out your thoughts - but you can also confuse others. I was recently talking with two different people - embarking on different challenges, but both needing advice. One was from the perspective of a people manager, one from the perspective of an employee being managed. Both have one thing in common: rather new in role (or not so experienced), and both working for corporations. Both young - but bold and with a strong desire to succeed and be the best. So - what kind of advice I could give them? (and before continuing: don't try to guess the persons, it will be useless ;-) ) Actually - the WHAT is not important for this post. More important is how I FELT when talking with them. In both situations it was very ad-hoc (like visiting, having a coffee, after a movie etc.). Completely unprepared. Com...