In my first entry about the word "we," I argued using the words "We decided to..." often create ambiguity. I suggested asking yourself several questions to reduce ambiguity either when you hear those words or when you are about to say them.

In this entry, I will lay out the case for when using the words "We decided to..." is completely appropriate and the use of other words is inappropriate.

All of us have experience with projects.

In my experience, complex project never work exactly as planned.

What is the first thing about a project that must be adapted when things aren't working as planned?

Is chaos like a wild horse?

Inhumane horse trainers (managers) see a rebellious animal who must adjust to a new environment. They transform the horse through a process they call "breaking." They break the will of the horse so it submits to the will of the human. Their methods may include:

• Saddling and riding the horse until its will is broken
• Tying the saddled horse to a tree until it ceases to struggle
• Drowning the horse until it submits
  

What actions are available to you and every other member of your team to help a new teammate become a productive member of the team?

Project Managers from ABC and XYZ, which are located on the opposite side of the same street, differ in how they report project status: The PMs from ABC are forthright with their sponsors, and the PMs from XYZ are evasive.

Why do the PMs at ABC and XYZ have opposite approaches to reporting status?

Todd Wilkens advocates banning crackberries from all meetings. I agree with Todd that people distracted by emails and phone calls aren't focused and become impediments to an effective meeting. But, in my experience, too many organizations have terribly ineffective meetings. If your organization's meetings are terrible, will a ban on crackberries make them effective?

Robert, a project manager, told me he uses the weekly project status meeting as a bully pulpit to shame any member of the team who didn't satisfy their task deadlines. I've seen him in action -- his face becomes grotesque as he verbally assaults his teammates.

I believe it's wrong for Rob or anyone else to attempt to shame another person. But it's also wrong for a teammate NOT to satisfy a task deadline.

Is it shameful not to meet a deadline?

You and Jeff are members of a project team. You've know Jeff for years. You like and respect him. He is new to the team. In what looks to you like an effort to prove his value to the other members of the team he has taken on too many tasks. He isn't completing his high-priority tasks on schedule. And he keeps taking on new tasks.

What do you do?

The term brownfield site means real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.

Does the term brownfield software system have merit?

Rewards can be powerful management tools, but only if you implement them effectively. Discover how the right timing and getting to know your employees better can improve the impact of your recognition methods.