Adrian Neumeyer @TacticalPMBlog

40 people in one room. I could feel the tension. My initial project meetings always felt like walking into a lion's den. I had a clear vision of how we should approach a project. But there was always immense pushback. Some said there wasn't enough time. Others thought the…

Can you be ever “ready" to lead a bigger project? Want to know the truth? It's an illusion. New project leaders work hard to “be “ready: Another PM course Another certification Another video Another book Then reality hits. BAM Their first big project hits them like a…

Leading isn’t about knowing everything. Just trusting yourself is a dead end. We project managers must get this. Each project is unique. Nobody has a surefire roadmap to success. So: When you’re stuck When you don’t know whether to turn left or right Talk to your team!…

If a project starts too quiet ... very suspicious. Then I ask myself: Did I do enough to communicate responsibilities? Did I do enough to show the impact of the changes? Did I do enough to emphasize the workload? Was I clear enough in communicating expecations? In other…

The new year often greets us project managers with a punch in the gut. A lot can change over the holidays. You come back Monday to find that: - Your top team member accepted a new job. - Another key person is out—skiing injury or something else - New cost-cutting measures…

When I was a new IT Project Manager, our director confronted me with a question: “What’s the memory size on the new server?” I was surprised. A technical question .... from a business leader? Turns out, it wasn’t about memory. It was a test. Am I really in control of…

My blood was pumping. My boss called me into his office. “What happened?” I asked. "XYZ department escalated because of you. They didn’t like how you handled things. They say you’re putting too much pressure on them about their tasks." I was shocked. An escalation? Because…

Repeat after me: Ten Mindset Boosters for Project Managers: This project is crushing me. → This is my chance. I’ll grow into someone I never thought I could be. I’m nervous about giving my team additional work. → How can we make this task more interesting or fun? I’m scared…

Many PMs tell me they feel uneasy in large groups. Here's what I tell them: You just need ONE large meeting: The kickoff All other meetings: Keep it lean. 👋 Do you prefer large meetings or small ones? I'd love to know.

Building relationships 101: Here's my favorite hack: ➡️ Remember what they share. If they mention going to a Spaghetti speed-eating contest soon 🍝 … … ask them about it next time you talk. People love this. For you: One more trust point earned.

What made you a top employee ... ... won’t make you a strong leader. In other words: "What got you here won't get you there." You need to re-invent yourself If you want to shine in a (Project) Leadership role. And become who you need to be. ➡️ Work on these areas: Show…

There are exactly two fun moments in a Project Manager’s life: 1. The kickoff, 2. When the project is finally closed successfully. Everything in between? A wild ride 🏇😱

I’ve been observing my kids’ behavior … Here’s what I learned about getting people to take action: As a dad of two kids, I'm always learning about human behavior. Every day is an opportunity to understand how people - even tiny people - respond to different approaches. I…

Time waster alert: Building relationships Yes, building relationships takes time. It took me almost a year to connect with some high-level leaders. But: It’s worth every minute invested. Because it generates your most valuable currency: Trust So, where do you start? And…

Quickest way to kill a PMs enthusiasm: Treat them like everyone else The thing is: Project Managers choose this path to be independent. To shape the process. To own communication. To drive decisions. To work directly with leaders and customers. When they find themselves…

Project Managers, want to be more forward-thinking? Use my simply formula: 1. Set aside 1 hour each week. 2. Check your project plan—what’s coming up in the next 2 weeks? 3. Ask yourself: - How might these tasks fail or get delayed? - How can we improve the chances of…

As a Project Manager, you have to find joy in the journey, not the end goal. The end goal is far in the future, and it's never certain. Find joy in the journey: the people you work with, the ups and downs, the laughs in team calls, the breakthroughs .... If you enjoy the process,…

Imagine having one of the toughest jobs. But getting zero recognition. That's the reality for Project Managers. Great work often gets no attention. That’s why I’m so grateful for those rare, pat-on-the-back moments when we concluded a project successfully: - A personal…

You can’t build strong project management in your organization without the right culture. I’ve seen both, the good and the bad. (I quit a terrible org within 2 weeks … was an easy decision) The difference? TOP: - Flat hierarchies - Full project ownership - Value-driven…

Unsure if your project managers are on top of things? Look for these 10 warning signs: 1. Everything they do is reactive. 2. They’re severely falling behind on their own tasks. 3. They avoid difficult work. 4. Their plans for tackling issues are vague. 5. They don’t…