Consult Donna

A way to make a beautiful boundary is to communicate your schedule. Boundaries. Guardrails. They can be restraining, and they can be freeing. Imagine how you would feel if you communicated your schedule. Requesting more time for your day interrupts whatever is planned personally. Your personal plans are simply that. Personal. But you do know when you can fit the request into your professional schedule. You communicate clearly when you can get to the task and when you expect to complete it. You are not asking for permission. You are clearly requesting that your schedule be acknowledged, understood, and accepted. You have communicated this in an honest, kind and respectful manner. The boundary of your personal and professional schedules has been set. Both parties are relieved. You are relieved because your schedule has been treated with respect. The party requesting more time is relieved because they know you have been transparent in your admission. They know you have provided alternatives from which they can choose. The requesting party can quickly pivot. It’s a win-win situation. That’s how you build a beautiful boundary. Do you agree? Please comment. Please DM me to discuss. Please repost if this resonates with you. #Business #Careers #BestAdvice #ProjectManagement #ManagementConsulting

A way to make a beautiful boundary is to communicate you are on overload – in a dangerous psychological position. Boundaries. Guardrails. They can be restraining, and they can be freeing. Imagine how you would feel if you communicated you are on overload. If you take on anything else, the request will not get the attention it needs. ? You are in a dangerous psychological position – a true breaking point. You are being vulnerable for the sake of excellence. You are clearly requesting that this situation be acknowledged, understood, and accepted. You have communicated this in an honest, kind and respectful manner. The boundary of your limits has been set. Both parties are relieved. You are relieved because your vulnerability has been treated with respect. The party requesting more is relieved because they know you have been courageous in your transparent admission. The requesting party can quickly pivot. It’s a win-win situation. That’s how you build a beautiful boundary. Do you agree? Please comment. Please DM me to discuss. Repost if this resonates with you. #Business #Careers #BestAdvice #ProjectManagement #ManagementConsulting

A way to make a beautiful boundary is to clarify your capacity. Boundaries. Guardrails. They can be restraining, and they can be freeing. Imagine how you would feel if you articulated clearly that your plate is full. There is no room for anything additional, at this time. You are at capacity, but you are happy to focus on what is mutually agreed to, most urgent. You are not asking permission. You are not asking for guidance. You are stating facts. These facts are supported by physical evidence. And you are open and look forward to future invitations. You have communicated this in a kind and respectful manner. The boundary of your capacity has been set. Both parties are relieved. You are relieved because you have been acknowledged, understood, and accepted. The party requesting more of your time is relieved because they know you are open and look forward to future invitations. The requesting party can quickly pivot. It’s a win-win situation. That’s how you build a beautiful boundary. Do you agree? Please comment. Please DM me to discuss. Repost if this resonates with you. #Business #Careers #BestAdvice #ProjectManagement #ManagementConsulting

The Month of March we will be featuring on Wednesdays, posts about "Making Boundaries Beautiful" Boundaries. Guardrails. They can be restraining, and they can be freeing. When I was growing up, my Mother always gave me boundaries. I always knew where I stood. There was little mystery. The only mystery I faced was figuring things out for myself, with her guidance. She taught me that boundaries are beautiful. They are beautiful because they provide security. They are beautiful because they are absolute [at least with my Mother]. I embraced this practice throughout my personal and professional life. This week my posts will be about how to make boundaries beautiful. When we do this, we are self-empowered with the security they provide. And especially we know gratitude for this discipline. Here are four savvy ways to create beautiful boundaries: 03.05 - Clarify Your Capacity 03.12 – Communicate When You are on Overload 03.19 – Educate About Your Abilities 03.26 – Define What is Your Personal Time Schedule Which of these posts do you think will bring the most value to you? Please comment. Which of these would you like to put into action? Please DM me to discuss. Please share if this resonates with you. #Business #Careers #BestAdvice #ProjectManagement #ManagementConsulting

Why is a “tribe” mentality important on a project? Sponsors overlook one very key element when they put together a business case for a project. Which “tribe” will be doing the boots on the ground, work? The project leadership is a layer or two of direct reports to the sponsors. But, what about the tribe? The tribe needs formation and notification immediately. The sponsors need to understand if these folks can become the “tribe”. Will they develop “tribe” mentality around the intention and scope of the project? This ensures that the people who fall under the “R” on the RACI chart are all in. They feel like everyone else under the “A”, “C”, and “I” has their back. Every milestone on the schedule will have a tribe that have each other’s back for every task. The project manager’s efforts empowered by this effort. The project team will produce at the highest levels of productivity. In fact, the project team will strive to stay together to do another project. Leadership will notice that this “tribe” still gets together. Even though they are not assigned to a project, they WANT and NEED to be together. They want to capture the same feeling of empowerment for their day to day. Have you ever been part of a project like this? Special thanks to Daryn Rowley for the infographic. #projectmanagement #culture #consultdonna #managementconsulting #business

Eliminate project failure… Know your PCIs (Pre-Crisis Indicators) What are they? PCI stands for Pre-Crisis Indicator. They BLINDSIDE a project team and crush its MOMENTUM three ways: 1.?????Intention undefined 2.?????Scope uncontrolled 3.?????Engagement inconsistent How do they surface? Imagine the project team enthusiastically ready to go. The project manager has meticulously crafted with the subject matter experts and the business analysts a plan to bring in the project ahead of schedule, on budget, and the ROI will be maximized. And then, when the PM least expects, BAM!!! The PM is having a status meeting and hears that the team members are working on something that has nothing to do with the intention…a “side project.” It adds to the scope; scope that the steering committee did not approve and only those who thought it was a great idea, are engaged. It all happened because somehow three words were missed from the business, “could you just” and then three words from IT “may as well.” This is how project team’s momentum is crushed. They now need to go back to step one. Listening skills are key. Thoughts? #managementconsulting #projectmanagement #business #leadership #entreprenuership #emotionalintelligence??

Let’s not talk about this… All someone needs many times is for us to listen. Truly listen. They want to be acknowledged, understood, accepted. It does not mean that we agree. It means that we have the emotional intelligence to demonstrate empathy and compassion. That’s it. That’s all there needs to be. We simply want someone to talk to. Someone that will listen to us without expectation. We each have or want a person to fulfill this role. Now, let’s talk about it. Do you have a C.L.O.? (Chief Listening Officer) #managementconsulting #projectmanagement #business #leadership #entreprenuership #emotionalintelligence ??

The 7 Commandments of the C.L.O. Chief Listening Officer 1. Thou shalt not gossip. We know the person doing the gossiping, five minutes later, will be gossiping about us. 2. Thou shalt NOT be a judge of our fellow citizens. We listen with empathy. We listen to understand. 3. Thou shalt reframe negativity. There is always a small crack in the worst situation that allows light through. 4. Thou shalt be optimistic. The glass is in a perpetual cycle of half full. 5. Thou shalt eliminate the blame thrower. We view the complaint as an outcry for solution and approval. 6. Thou shalt choose reality. We do not exaggerate. 7. Thou shalt clarify facts versus opinions. How can we speak powerfully to make change in the world? We must T.H.I.N.K. before we speak. Gossiping, judging, negativity, complaining, exaggeration, and being dogmatic. They have little to do with truth, helpfulness, inspiration, necessity, or kindness. The C.L.O. is accountable to the citizens of their professional environment. They uphold and set the example of The 7 Commandments of the C.L.O. Chief Listening Officer. They ensure everyone T.H.I.N.K.s before they speak. In this way, we speak with power to change our world. ?

Did you hear that? Were you listening? This month’s posts are focused on the role of the Chief Listening Officer (C.L.O.) Instantly increase your professional and personal relationship value with these skills. February 5 How can we speak powerfully to make change in the world? We must T.H.I.N.K. before we speak. February 12 Let’s not talk about this…All someone needs many times is for us to listen. Truly listen. They want to be acknowledged, understood, accepted. It does not mean that we agree. February 19 Eliminate project failure…The C.L.O. (also is the Project Manager) must listen for these. Know your PCIs (Pre-Crisis Indicators) What are they? PCI stands for Pre-Crisis Indicator. February 26 Why is a “tribe” mentality important on a project? Sponsors overlook one very key element when they put together a business case for a project. Which “tribe” will be doing the boots on the ground, work? #Business #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #BestAdvice #Genius #ManagementConsulting #ProjectManagement

2025 is THE YEAR OF YOU!! The discipline to be organized is a liberating attribute. How do we get there? Take an Inventory of Everything Positive You Have Everything you have includes physically, mentally, emotionally, socially, and tangible. The abundance will surprise you. The minimal list is a blessing too. Focusing on what’s missing in our lives can lead to a sense of dissatisfaction and unhappiness. Practice gratitude for what you do have and appreciate the abundance that already exists in your life. PS: If you think this post will inspire your network, please share, and thanks in advance for re-posting. #BestAdvice #Business #Careers #Leadership #EmotionalIntelligence #ProjectManagement #ManagementConsulting