Time to Grow Up?

As we step into a new year, I am reflecting on the journey so far, and I'm asking you a favour.

While I may not have reached the goal of 500 subscribers, having the privilege of getting into 473 mailboxes is a responsibility I take seriously. It's a clear sign that it's time for this newsletter to evolve beyond its whimsical beginnings into something more structured and tailored to your interests.

This is where I need your help!

I'm reaching out to gather your thoughts on the topics we've explored together, and to understand what you'd like to see more of in 2024.

The "small-a-agile" framework for agile transformation

My plan for 2024 is to formalize the approach based on the idea that scaling up (big-"a") Agile is a source of lots of organizational pain, and it would be more logical to scale down the management framework around projects.

PM Templates

Over the years, I've conjured up dozens of templates, each battle-tested in diverse contexts and methodologies. Their strength lies in their practical utility, as they are meant to collect information that is intrinsically useful (the information that a project manager must have - no matter if it's requested on a template or not).

I have recently started to make them available here, subscribers have a voucher to get them for free (please remind me in the comments if you missed it).

Scope creep

Ideas from cinema, music, books, that throw a new light on some project management issue. The next article will reveal that a blind Argentinian writer wrote around 1940 the most impressive, prophetic texts about how digitalization is changing our world. Can you guess who?

Interviews

I'm planning to bring back interviews with leaders in innovation, projects, and change: I made a couple of experiments in the aftermath of the pandemic (here and here), during the first stages of getting back to the office, and there's more to uncover as we adapt to the evolving landscape.

Critical path cooking

What is the best way to explain a recipe to a Project Manager? With a Gantt chart, of course!

Quick, easy recipes with crystal clear instructions, tailored for time-strapped project managers, like the ever-popular Commuters' Spaghetti.

Project supervillains

One of my action figures made it to a public event and sown panic among the participants - but there are many more of them just waiting to wreak havoc to our projects.

New in 2024!

On top of the (hopefully) good old stuff, I am planning some new contributions

Community

Community engagement is key. I'm planning more interactive online events, kicking off with the Circle series of workshops starting in February with EnTranCe (Project Management Beyond Textbooks).

Email-based courses

For those in a crunch, I am planning a series of Email-based courses to offer timely guidance, a sort of emergency resource when you need to deliver something fast - and you have no clue where to start from.

Can you deliver the earned-burnt chart before lunch today?

Been there, done that. I can help.

...and the one last thing

Your feedback is crucial: what topics do you find most engaging? What would you prefer to see less of?

Your opinions shape our journey.

Thank you for being a part of it!