American Eagle Group Resource Material Review

The 17 Essential Qualities of A Team Player – Becoming the Kind of Person Every Team Wants

2009-01-21T15:04:00.011-05:00

David A. Zimmer, PMP
Chief of Staff
American Eagle Group

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We work in teams. Very seldom are we called upon to create a piece of work alone. It is part of a larger effort. It has been said nothing great was ever accomplished alone. But how do we become better team players? What does it mean to be better? Many grew up playing on some sports team, singing in a choir, acting in some drama or performing in a band. Shouldn't that experience be enough to teach all we need to know? Dr. John C. Maxwell lists 17 Qualities of a good team player.

Dr. Maxwell has distilled years of working with companies developing teams into 17 essential qualities a team member must have. They include

Adaptable
Collaborative
Committed
Communicative
Competent
Dependable
Disciplined
Enlarging
Enthusiastic

Intentional
Mission Conscious
Prepared
Relational
Self-Improving
Selfless
Solution Oriented
Tenacious

First, I have read many of Dr. Maxwell books. I find them easy to understand, written in a style that lets me grasp the information, and apply it to my life, so I guess I at least qualify in the "Self-Improving" category. This book, in particular, was divided into chapters which were short. I could read about one quality in my spare time, even during hectic days. Each section had a pattern: a story or example to make the point, a thought provoking section to reflect on the point made, a section making it real in my life, and a take-away. Each presentation angle helped me to understand the points being made.

As a project manager, I am required to develop my team. The team helps me accomplish the tasks and complete the project assigned to me. By developing the team, I increase my chances of success – a great indicator of my ability to manage projects. But, if I don't know what characteristics are important to develop, how can I develop them? This book provided a simple list with tangible ideas to use while developing my team. I will definitely use this information and keep the book nearby as I manage my project. It will become one of my most valuable references.

I'm going to rate this book a 4.0 out of 4.0.

David A. Zimmer

The 10 Qualities of Charismatic People – Secrets of Personal Magnetism

2008-03-09T22:30:00.017-05:00

David A. Zimmer, PMP
Chief of Staff
American Eagle Group

[click to purchase]

Back in the mid-90s, I purchased a tape series by a speaker and author named Tony Alessandra, Ph.D. The series was called “The Platinum Rule.” The tape series made such an impression on me that I’ve used the information over and over up to the present. Dr. Alessandra has some powerful insights and a way of expression that you retain the teaching.

I received an email from Nightingale-Conant describing the 10 Qualities of Charismatic People. At first, I thought about passing on it until I saw it was authored by Dr. Alessandra. Knowing the impact of his tapes series from twelve or more years ago, I jumped at the offer and purchased that day. I have not been disappointed.

Dr. Alessandra, a New York Italian – as he calls himself numerous times throughout series – lists the top 10 traits charismatic people possess. Being the type of guy I am and knowing that my bread-n-butter depends on what others think of me, I thought if I could become charismatic, I would stand a better chance at more business . . . and friends.

I learned that I possessed many of the charismatic traits. That’s great news. Less I have to work on. I also learned the areas where I’m less charismatic – more things to work on.

I learned a long time ago that those that lead, a.k.a., leaders, have a certain way about them. It is not just confidence, good-looks, expertise or panache. They have a way with people whereby others are drawn to them. I seem to be able draw some people but not others. And since I teach others about leadership, being a “leader” would certainly add credibility to my statements. The leaders I see have charisma – that elusive trait we can’t seem to define but we know it when we see it or experience it.

I won’t digress here that leaders are not necessarily those in charge or in higher position or in places of authority. Leaders are those that others follow or respect regardless of socio-economic status or position on the organization chart. They are the ones when they speak, others listen. There are those who fancy themselves as leaders, but aren’t. Since I want to be one of those that others follow, how do I gain this elusive characteristic called “charisma?” Or since I have some and not all the traits, how do I fix the ones that are “broken?”

In the series, Dr. Alessandra shows me the steps I need in order to build up the weak areas and how to maintain the strong areas. He outlines the 10 qualities (thus the title) of charismatic people. On top of that, he gives great examples that I can use to improve and become the leader that I want to become.

I have listened to this series at least three times since I bought it about 2 months ago. Each time I learn more. I have applied some of the information to my life and work environment. I am seeing results. While no one is writing my name in for the next president of the United States (good thing), I see that I am making a difference in others’ lives.

The information works. Dr. Alessandra has produced yet another series that will greatly impact me. Thanks. I needed that.

I’m going to rate this series a 4.0 out of 4.0.

David A. Zimmer

Integrity’s Impact: Your Practical Guide to Integrity’s Power, Benefits, and Use

2007-07-11T20:00:00.000-05:00

American Eagle Group
Copyright ©2007, American Eagle Group, All Rights Reserved Worldwide

Integrity has been defined as “Steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code” (www.answer.com). Synonyms include honesty, truthfulness, honor, veracity, reliability and uprightness.

To me, integrity comes from within and is noticed by those from without. Integrity to me is doing the right thing even when no one is watching and would never find out if you behaved improperly.

It seems that integrity is in short supply these days with all the scandals we read about or hear in the news. Enron. MCI Worldcom. Sundry legislators with their hands improperly in various cookie jars.

When I came across a book whose title included the word “integrity,” I was intrigued. Add tothat of knowing the author personally makes for an interesting read. Mark Willson, the author, consults to various sized organizations helping them solve complex business problems. In those situations, there are many opportunities to compromise inappropriately, so integrity is very important to serve not just the client, but the client’s business and society in general.
According to Willson (pg. 27-28):

“You can’t help but be a person of outstanding integrity if you:

Have sound rules to live by (integrity)
Consistently and conscientiously use those rules to help you make the right decisions (focus)
Bring positive credit to yourself and those around you (honor)
Help others to see the right path (leadership)”

He points out that integrity is a frequently misunderstood and, unfortunately, can depend on a person’s culture, concept of truth, and right and wrong. That alludes to my personal concern that we have lost our foundation for right and wrong, therefore, we are like a ship without a rudder – we wander all over the ocean trying to move forward (material for another nugget of editorial thought).

Willson constructed the book in a very interesting manner. He used four methods to deliver his point:

the actual text,
off the wall titles that make sense after you read the text,
short guidelines “pull-outs”, and
personal stories.

For me, the methods that seemed to work best is the actual text and the guidelines pull-outs. The stories help keep the text light in certain spots (you have to read his face-to-face episode with a tiger and his almost death march in Alaska).

I use several criteria in determining if a book is a good read or not. They are:

content – does the content deliver good points
highlights – I read with a highlighter in hand and highlight points that jump out at
me
length of book – solid content in a few number of pages – I don’t have much time
to read either, so short is good

When I finish a book, I judge my overall reaction and flip through it for the “highlighted” factor – lots of highlights, it must be a good book.

In this book, many of the pull-outs are highlighted. Short, to the point, salient and memorable. Being highlighted, they are easily referenced.

By the end of the book, Willson has helped you understand the meaning of integrity – true to oneself and the well-being of those around you. Rolled into that, he developed a problem-solving, actionable methodology to help you evolve from where you are in life to where you want to be. This same methodology can be used in business situations to overcome a variety of problems and reach quality solutions.

Overall, I would rate this book as an excellent read. Lots of good insights into life grounded in practical experience, considered points that will expand your thinking, and a tangible method of reaching your goals.

David A. Zimmer

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Project Management

2007-03-03T16:05:00.000-05:00

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The Complete Idiot's Guide to Project Management. I hate the title, but I love the book! Imagine me, reading this book while riding on a plane. My goal is to provide consulting and coaching in Project Management to clients. After 30 years of hard-core project management and earning a Master's Certificate through Villanova University and just shy of a Project Management Professional designation, I am reading this book hoping the person next to me doesn't see the title and wonder if I am a neophyte in PM, especially if he or she asks me what I do for a living! I don't think they will be hiring my services any time soon.

But. . .

This book has quickly become one of my favorites for this field. The other two highly recommended books are "The Little Black Book of Project Management" by Thomsett and "Practical Project Management" by Dobson. Each book approaches Project Management from a different perspective.

Dobson describes in Practical Project Management the various tools such as the Gantt Chart, Work Breakdown Structure, the PERT Chart, Crash Analysis, etc. from a manual method while discussing critical path, earned value and so forth. It is a great book for understanding better the inner-workings of MS Project or other project software.

Thomsett describes in The Little Black Book of Project Management the human or "soft" side of Project Management. While he describes the tools such as Gantt Charts and Critical Path, et al, Thomsett goes further to discuss the variety of people issues that a project manager will face.

In the Complete Idiot's Guide to Project Management, Sunny and Kim Baker and G. Michael Campbell approach the subject using the four phases of any project: Initiation, Planning, Implementation, and Completion - as outlined in the PMBOK (Project Management Body of Knowledge) published by the Project Management Institute. They take each phase and breakdown the considerations and activities involved so project managers can follow the practices of the best in the industry.

They cover such things as the Work Breakdown Structure - WBS, the PERT Chart, a.k.a., the Network Diagram, the Gantt Chart, etc. They delve into identifying the Stakeholders and defining their roles, selecting a Project Team, Scoping the Goals of the Project and anticipating Risks and project Constraints - areas commonly overlooked or just not done sufficiently because of our rush to get to the Implementation phase.

These are seasoned professionals who have been around the block, have the scares to prove it and are passing on precious information and insights that any project manager should know. They describe methods of budgeting, accounting for resource time, overcoming conflicts and schedule slips and give the details I wished I had had when I was starting out.

They realize that most project managers are not formally trained in project management techniques (very few people dream that someday they will be project managers and others slip into it like a mud puddle or were volunteered by someone else). Their lucid conversational style makes you quickly warm to them as elder mentors helping you down the road to more successful projects.

You would do well, experienced or not, to take the time to read this book. I read the Third Edition. The Fourth Edition is out now - it wasn't out two months ago when I bought my copy. Regardless of the edition, it is a great addition to your library. But a word to the caution - put a book cover on it so no one sees the title!

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Project Management, 4th Edition

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Project Management - Practical Tools for Success

2006-11-29T23:51:00.000-05:00

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Project Management - Practical Tools for Success is one of the Crisp Fifty-Minute Series books. The goal is to give you quick lessons on various aspects in Project Management that become tools in your arsenal. Overall, the book accomplishes that goal - the lessons are quick, and it alerts you to the various skills needed to be a successful project manager.

I find the book both interesting and a little too simplistic. For the experienced in Project Management, the lessons will seem common sense and ho-hum. On the other hand, to the new project manager, he or she will quickly realize that managing projects is a lot more than the budget and the schedule. The project manager must quickly develop many interpersonal skills quickly. This book, while it does seem to describe common sense, points up the needed information to make common sense happen. Common sense is not common sense until one realizes that it is common sense.

The book provides some excellent manual tools that can be used if project management software is not being used to manage the project. But a project of any decent size should be managed with software these days. The project plan provides so many early warnings and extra information, that by not using software to help manage the plan, the project manager will simply be at a loss. The major problem is that he or she won't realize how MUCH information he or she is missing. Crictical information - information that may determine success or failure for the project.

For the intermediate or advanced project manager, the book is useless. If you consider yourself to be in one of those two categories, then you won't gain much by reading the book - that is if you are at that stage. Unfortunately, because many project managers are not formally trained in project management concepts and fundamentals, many who are not at the intermediate stage consider themselves to be at that level. This book would be helpful to this category of people. Sound like double-speak here? It isn't. You just want to objectively evaluate your level of expertise.

If you are not sure if you should pick up this book, the investment of a whopping $13.95 USD won't kill you. And, if you click on the book image above, you will be sent to the Amazon.com website where you can by used copies or almost new copies for less that $1.00. It is a good investment at that price.

Project 2003 Personal Trainer

2006-11-15T21:07:00.000-05:00

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Project 2003 Personal Trainer is a decent primer for MS Project. It teaches in bite-sized lessons. The examples are practical. Overall, it is written well for the beginner. More advanced users can still pick up plenty of useful tips and correct some bad habits by reading its contents. This book beats the Dummies and Idiot series and it doesn't insult your intelligence.

This book is published by O'Reilly and written by CustomGuide. I wished the typeface used was a bit bigger because its small size does detract from the message and causes the reader to work harder at reading, which is a distraction from understanding. I did like the layout because they cover a particular feature of MS Project is a short and concise manner, so it was easy to use the technique quickly.

I learned a few extra tips that I had not known while reviewing the book, so even though I am considered experienced in the use of MS Project, I can always learn a new trick. I feel that it is a good deal for the price. Certainly not as exhaustive as the larger reference books, Personal Trainer hits the more likely to be used features of MS Project.

Blog Rules - A Business Guide To Managing Policy, Public Relations, and Legal Issues

2006-09-28T23:00:00.000-05:00

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Blog Rules is a book who’s time has come. Blogs, short for web logs, are taking the web by storm and we as technology purveyors need to embrace them. People are using blogs in order to communicate a variety of topics from personal political statements and personal memoirs to business initiatives and product placement. You name it and you can find a blog on any topic. There is a new blog created every two seconds. Blog owners (bloggers) must understand their responsibilities, liabilities, and the potential abuse of blogs.

Just as we have seen the growth of email and instant messaging (IM), blogging has caught on at a much faster pace than any recent technology. And just as email has been abused by spammers and IM by the spimmers, blogs are being abused by the sploggers. There are inherent risks for supporting or creating blogs and if not careful, the blogger can be severely impacted by unscrupulous people or injured parties.

Blog Rules does a very nice job describing the risks and responsibilities, almost to the point of making me wish I had never created a blog and wanting to pull them down. Just as a person can get flamed in email, blogs can get stormed to the point where it overwhelms the communications lines and machines supporting the blog. Good news travels fast via blogs, but juicy gossip and bad news flood the blogsphere faster than one can disconnect the machine from the web or cut the communication lines.

The key to mitigating the risks and limiting the responsibilities is through written policies and vigilant patrol of blog contents. Blog Rules provide sample policies that companies can adopt to protect themselves and the level of discipline for violators. It also warns about too much policing and editing of the content because it causes negative impact on visitors.

Currently, litigation in blogdom is relatively new and undefined. The default rule is that the owner of the blog is responsible for all content in the blog regardless of the author of the content – whether it is from an official source within the company, an employee, or a visitor’s comment. Blog Rules describes the policies and procedures that a company must enact to protect itself.

Blog Rules is not a “how to” manual for creating or populating a blog. It does not discuss how to drive traffic to the blog or make money from it. It focuses on the “legal” aspects, those points that one must consider when understanding how a blog can be abused.

At first, I found the book to be a bit boring because it wasn’t talking about the technology, how I could gain business from a blog, or how to make ancillary money from it. I was being a technologist. Then it dawned on me that I needed to put on my consultant’s hat and read the book because it became knowledge that my customers needed to know and that I could be the source for that knowledge. Once I made that mental change, the book became very interesting. It is well written and very enlightening. It is certainly one that I will recommend to my clients.

If you are looking for a book which talks about the technology of blogs, this is not it. But if you are looking for a book that helps you save your butt because of the potential abuse of your blog – buy Blog Rules, read it, devour it, memorize it, and then implement its suggestions.

The Little Black Book of Project Management

2006-09-24T23:00:00.001-05:00

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The Little Black Book of Project Management is a great compliment to the Practical Project Management book by Michael Dobson. While the Practical Project Management book provides the concepts behind project management, the Little Black Book is more of the "how to" manual for conducting project management.

It provides sage advice defining the project, selecting the project team, establishing the budget, etc. It approaches each subject from a variety of angles. The book highlights very well the fact that the project manager has little authority, but great responsibility and how to handle the responsibility in many situations: projects confined to one department and projects whose bounderies cut across many departments and business units.

The book is written by Michael Thomsett. He writing style is crisp and clear. He tackles many of the more complex subjects and methodically explains the concepts so that the reader can understand. Since many of the concepts are difficult to understand, the reader will need to take the time to thoroughly read what is written and spend time thinking to understand fully what is being stated. This statement is not a criticism of the writing, but atests to the complexity of the issue at hand. Face it, some subjects are simply complex and no matter how well the writer explains it, it still takes time to understand it fully.

As I stated before, this book and the book by Dobson are two excellent companion reference materials. I would highly recommend both books gracing your shelf after you read them. Then, periodically, pull them down and re-read them. Both will advance your career in project management.

Rountable on Project Management

2006-09-23T22:59:00.000-05:00

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One of the best books I have read on Project Management. Especially pertinent for IT Professionals. A group of seasoned project managers discuss their real-life situations managing projects. The insights provided, answers offered, and overall general discussions highlight many important and sage nuggets of wisdom.

I learned from this book that these people have slogged through many of the same things I experience or have experienced. They deal with determining the importance of a project, sizing a project, how to deal with difficult team members, stakeholders, customers and bosses and more. Some of the contributors work as employees while others work as consultants. Each has a unique take on the situation being discussed.

An interesting discussion centers around the sinking of the Titantic and how its sinking relates so nicely to projects in IT. The Titantic was new technology and the current methods of correcting a situation didn't work for the Titantic (obviously). The discussion focused on the new technology which required new techniques, tempered by the seasoning of experience.

Overall, it was a wonderful book. The more I read, the more difficult it was to put down. After I got past the first two chapters which seemed to be pretty obvious to me, the remaining chapters became absorbing because of the challenges stated and the solutions offered.

This book is a compilation of the discussion board run by Gerald Weinberg, an IT industry icon who has written many books for the IT industry. So the book captures the words of many people with great summaries by James Bullock, Gerald Weinberg, and Marie Benesh.

This is a must read. It will help you solve many issues you are facing or at least help you to think differently than the situation at hand.

Dealing With Different, Diverse (and Difficult) People CD Series

2006-09-22T22:58:00.000-05:00

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The most powerful CD/Tape series I have ever heard! This 6 CD and 1 CD ROM containing a printable workbook helped me understand why I thought people were so difficult to manage or persuade. If my house was burning and I could save only 1 set of tapes/CDs, this package would be it. It helps me understand the differences between personalities, generations, genders, and cultures – all of which impacts my effectiveness as a project manager. An indispensable resource that you will want to hear over and over and the tips that will become invaluable in your toolkit.

Exploring Personality Styles

2006-09-21T22:56:00.000-05:00

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If everyone was the same as me, we would all get along just fabulously. But since that is not the case, understanding what makes others tick helps me to better motivate, persuade, influence, and encourage others in our pursuit of a common goal called “project.” Over the years, understanding personality styles has enabled me to communicate more clearly, negotiate more successfully, and advance project goals effectively. Understanding my own personality is key, and then understanding other’s is critical to successful project management. This quick-read guide to personalities gives you a leg up on advancing your goals as project manager.

P.E.R.S.U.A.D.E.

2006-09-20T22:55:00.001-05:00

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As a project manager, you have the responsibility of accomplishing the impossible with very little or no authority. You are given the task of taking a limited group of resources, using never-enough money, and producing the outcome as stated by the ill-defined scope. Influence, not authority, is the key to success in any situation. Your ability to influence will determine your effectiveness and your level of success. P.E.R.S.U.A.D.E. teaches you the necessary skills to leave your message burning in the memories of others, and move them to the goals that you desire.

Team Power

2006-09-19T22:54:00.000-05:00

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One of the most important skills and the toughest to learn for a project manager is building a team. A group of people assigned to the same project does not make a team. The project manager is responsible for developing the group into an effective and productive team. Team Power provides a blueprint for molding the group into a “get the job done” unit that supports your organization’s goals and takes responsibility for the project’s outcome.

Practical Project Management

2006-09-18T22:52:00.000-05:00

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Layman’s guide to project management. Teaches you want you need to know to get the job done. Basic, down-to-earth advice about managing projects, insightful comments to help you come out on top, and even a troubleshooting guide for when situations are not perfect. Frankly, the best book on project management I have read.

This book teaches the concepts that you need to know behind project management so that you have an understanding of the important aspects. The book is an excellent read and only takes about one and a half days to read. Make sure that you have a highlighter handy because there are many important points that you will want see again and again.

Microsoft Office Project 2003 Bible

2006-01-17T23:47:00.000-05:00

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If you are going to use MS Project 2003, this manual is a must. It describes the how and why of MS Project 2003. Unlike other reference materials, it not only gives the keystrokes to accomplish your specific tasks, it explains what MS Project is doing for you. It helps you understand why the steps are necessary. The included CD provides the entire text on searchable PDF format making it easier and faster to locate the pertinent material to answer your question. I don’t leave home without it!

I rate this one above the others because of the ease-of-understanding, the excellent examples, thoroughness of discussion, and the keystroke instructions to accomplish what you want to do inside MS Project. It also highlights the new features in MS Project 2003. This bit of information makes it useful with MS Project 2000, 2002, and XP. If a feature or function is not marked as new for 2003, then the feature or function is available in the earlier version and uses the same keystrokes.