A strong project manager is a value-added professional—someone who bring skills other than technical expertise to the table. One of those skills is the ability to recognize which of many factors is the real priority in a given situation....
Outstanding project managers in any venue—construction, IT, engineering, or everyday life—have skills beyond technical expertise....
When you’re taking a generalist approach, it’s helpful to use decision-making tools to support a thought process that results in successful outcomes. One important tool is the Three Bears test....
A number of years ago I designed and built a new home for myself. I was working with an architect who had a good reputation in the community and was proud of it.
At one point, the architect asked me about the wall separating the great room from the bedroom wing. Did I want 5/8-inch or 3/4-inch drywall installed, and did I want it screwed or nailed? My stomach lurched—a familiar sign that I had no idea what he was talking about.
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You might know Oprah Winfrey from her long-running talk show. Maybe you’ve picked up her magazines, tuned in to a radio broadcast, seen her in a movie, watched her cable network, or picked up a novel from her book club. A media magnate, she glides from television to movies to magazines to politics and philanthropy, applying what she learns in one situation to make each following one a success. That’s earned her many titles, but what she really embodies is the spirit of a generalist....
