PMI PDX News 2019 Jul
July
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PRESIDENT'S CORNER |
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Chapter President Penelope Luedtke, PMP“If your emotional abilities aren’t in hand, if you don’t have self-awareness, if you are not able to manage your distressing emotions, if you can’t have empathy and have effective relationships, then no matter how smart you are, you are not going to get very far.” – Daniel Goleman Hello Chapter Members! They say to grow, you need to operate outside your comfort zone, and boy let me tell you, being the leader of this chapter is anxiety-inducing. If there ever was a time to doubt myself and my abilities, this would be it. Sincerely, Penelope Luedtke, PMP |
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ARTICLES
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Chapter members, please note; there will be no PMI Portland Chapter newsletter release for August 2019. Newsletters will resume in the Fall starting September 2019. Flex Your EQBy Reni Towns, PMP If you wanted to improve muscle tone, you would hit the gym a few days a week and lift weights. You might work with a trainer or even a friend to help you develop a strength training plan. Your workout buddy could give you feedback on your form, and it could be helpful for you to shadow their workouts. After a few weeks or months, if you are focused and consistent, you should see the physical results to your physique. Have you considered leveraging similar strategies to strengthen your EQ? Emotional Intelligence (EQ) represents a person’s ability to recognize and manage their own emotions and leveraging that self-actualization to develop relationships with others. EQ is a top indicator of successful leaders. According to TalentSmart, a provider of emotional intelligence assessment and training, 90% of high performers at work have a high EQ, while 80% of poor performers have low EQ. Bottom line – emotional intelligence is a critical leadership skill, especially for project managers who need to work with a wide range of people and personalities to achieve project success. Let’s review a few tactical ways you can flex and grow your EQ. First, improve your self-awareness, or your ability to understand how your moods and emotions impact other people. Consider how your negative emotions like frustration and disengagement impact your team or your boss. Recall a stressful time at work and ask for feedback from those who were working alongside you. Did your reaction impact your team? Next, try to self-regulate. One easy way to do this is to pause before firing off an angry email. Wait a few hours before responding. Hold back a snarky comment at a meeting and follow up with a less emotional one-on-one conversation later in the day. Become the office optimist. Focus on staying positive, especially when interacting with your team. If you catch yourself complaining – stop it. People find optimism more energizing and motivating. While it's difficult to receive criticism, don’t be offended. Turn it into a learning opportunity. Finally, show empathy by responding appropriately to the emotions of others. If a team member is reacting emotionally to a decision, figure out why. Put yourself in the other person’s shoes and verbally acknowledge the other person’s feelings and point of view. Increasing your EQ takes time and practice. It requires introspection. You will need honest feedback along the way from people you trust. It is like doing bicep curls to increase upper body strength, your EQ fitness will improve with repetition, coaching, and dedication.
“Let's Be Human To Each Other:” Emerging Leader Liz Lockhart Shares Her Professional Journey and Perspectives for EffectivenessBy Rachel Crane, PMP The running question you can't help but think when speaking to Liz Lockhart is one that reveals what makes her so striking: Does this woman ever sleep? A renaissance woman, Lockhart is a Director of PMO, Adjunct Professor, business consultant, volunteer, and mentor—and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Lockhart developed a strong work ethic and business acumen early on by working in her family’s online business. “I’ve been answering phones and taking orders since age 12 and managing people since I was 16.”
When growing up in a family business, Lockhart says, “You learn there’s no one else to solve your problem. You have to figure it out.” She stresses that her early experiences taught her how to “work with people, collaborate, and break through blockers—inspiring confidence that anything is possible.” Lockhart attended the University of Portland, studying Operations and Technology Management while holding two jobs. She also took a three-year stint teaching leadership to high school students in a summer camp environment. This role, she says, “is what I would consider the foundation of everything I’ve done since.” Lockhart’s career started in a service desk role; this quickly led to a role in technology procurement, where she facilitated mergers and acquisitions, optimized spending and promoted change management. Next, while working through an MBA program, Lockhart joined Smarsh, delivering a large customer-facing email migration that demonstrated her ability to execute complex technical projects. As Lockhart’s role expanded, she established and began leading Smarsh’s PMO. “Our PMO is rooted in agile principles,” says Lockhart. “Through putting people first, seeking to understand, and having the ability to run the experiment or fail fast, we’ve been able to execute transparently and change as needed. Our PMO serves as connective tissue between departments and groups.” Asked her perspective on what makes a project manager effective, Lockhart focuses on the importance of communication. “Our superpower is connecting people in productive ways, asking good questions, seeking to understand, and communicating—the number one project management competency.” Speaking of her near-term goals and five-year plan, Lockhart is laser-focused on what comes next. “At Smarsh, my next goal is Senior Director or VP, leading our larger PMO activities and diving in with key strategists. I will also continue teaching and aim to expand my course offering to additional universities.” Lockhart highlights her desire to advance her engagements in mentorship, volunteer, and consulting relationships, saying, “There is value in offering and receiving help…Learning from each other is something we don’t do enough.” Discussing how to grow and thrive in project management, Lockhart appeals to her set of core tenets: “Let’s be human to each other, understand that collaboration is key, seek to understand, and know that servant leadership is essential. Don’t be afraid to fail fast. Be the person your dog thinks you are and meet your stakeholders where they are. Be easy, life is hard enough.”
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Have Knowledge to Share?Submit an article -- or share an idea -- by sending an email to Director of Content Marketing. |
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EVENTS |
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Chapter Meetings“Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow.” – Anthony J. D'Angelo There are no Chapter Meetings for July or August 2019. We'll see you back in September for the monthly Chapter meeting and the Annual Conference on September 20, 2019, at the Oregon Convention Center.
Certification ClassesThe PMI Portland Chapter offers certification prep courses for project leaders ready to become Project Management Professionals (PMP), individuals looking to establish credibility in the application of project management processes as a Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), and Agile professionals looking for formal recognition with the PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) credential. PMI-ACP Exam Prep Course | October 12, 19, and 26, 2019
Annual Conference and other EventsPMI Portland Annual Conference | September 20, 2019
RoundtablesPMI hosts various roundtables across the metro area. Roundtables are a great way to get connect, earn PDUs and guidance on project issues from fellow PMs. Click here to learn more about roundtables and find the one closest you.
Chapter Event Calendar |
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COMMUNITY |
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PMI Portland Nomination for Featured Leadership ProfileAre you or someone you know interested in being interviewed for the PMI Portland newsletter leadership profile? To nominate yourself or a colleague for consideration, please contact us at content@pmi-portland.org with a few details about your nominee.
Giving Back with the PMI Portland Outreach TeamBy Angie Eastman, Asst Military Liaison, Meei Lum, Asst Dir of Associations, Kim Geist, Asst VP of Outreach, and Jennifer Whybra-Ucar, VP of Outreach Many thanks to all who responded to the Outreach Team’s “Call to Action” in the June newsletter for the community service initiative. As a result, the team has been lining up non-profits and participants for the pilot program launching this fall. Here are three additional volunteer opportunities that may be of interest: Remote Area Medical (RAM) is a nonprofit working to prevent pain and ease suffering by providing free quality healthcare to those in need. Angie Eastman is a core volunteer and travels several times a year to run the vision lab during medical outreach missions. Earlier this year Angie worked with RAM in partnership with the Salvation Army and US Public Health Service in St. Paul, Minnesota. The next West Coast volunteer opportunities are available this fall (October and November) in Nevada and California. Volunteers are responsible for their own transportation and lodging. If interested in learning more about RAM, email Angie Eastman at asst_military_liaison@pmi-portland.org. The Columbia Slough Watershed Council (CSWC) is a diverse group of neighbors, property owners, businesses, environmental groups, recreation advocates, and government agencies who work to restore and enhance the sixty miles of waterways known as the Columbia Slough. The CSWC organizes several events that need volunteer support:
If you are interested in volunteering for CSWC with other PMI members, contact Meei Lum via vp_outreach@pmi-portland.org. In4All is a nonprofit that unites educators and businesses to support historically under-served students during their K-12 education. On June 7, Outreach Team members Brooks Dahmen and Kim Geist took part as judges in the Design Thinking Student Showcase at the State Capitol building. This event marked an exciting achievement for In4All middle school students, as they presented their final projects integrating math, science, sensitive community issues, analytical problem-solving, practical planning, and teamwork. In September, new students will begin the eight-session program with volunteers from PMI and the community. Contact Brooks Dahmen at association_outreach@pmi-portland.org for more information about working with In4All.
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MORE TO EXPLORE |
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CHAPTER SPONSORS |
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