Photo by Pixabay User geralt

In part 1 we have given you 5 questions that help you identify whether you need a project manager or not. If you have decided that you want to hire one, the challenge now is to actually find a good project manager. 

Startups and small businesses often think that they do not have enough people or customers to need a project manager. That might be true for smaller or more insignificant projects, but the moment a business has to deal with a critical or bigger project, it needs to consider hiring a project manager.

Photo by Flickr User seler+seler (edited), Licensed under CC BY 2.0

Summer time, free time. No to-do lists, no meetings, no emails. While you might be ecstatic at first that you don’t have to do anything, this excitement can quickly wear off and it can seem as if time passes by as slowly as a snail. If such a feeling also creeps up in your daily work life, it gets problematic. 

Photo by Pixabay Users elrodion & Tumisu (edited)

“Thank you”, these two short words can have a powerful impact – if done right. Appreciation can often take a back seat in the ever so hectic day-to-day project life, even though it’s so important in the workplace. Employees who feel valued and appreciated are more motivated and more productive. Here are some tips on how to communicate appreciation more effectively. 

Photo by Pixabay User PublicDomainPictures

Vacation season is finally here! Some have already planned their vacations months in advance, while others might be more the last-minute type. We have some tips on how to plan your vacation like a project manager – more effectively and (almost) stress-free. 

Photo by Flickr User Andy Castro, Licensed under CC BY 2.0

Disneyland is celebrating its 60^th birthday this year and the celebrations are already under way. With over 16 million visitors from all over the world per year, it continues to be a huge success. But how did Disneyland become the most magical place on Earth and what can project managers learn from it? The answer is: ‘Imagineering’ (a portmanteaux of the words ‘imagination’ and ‘engineering’).

Our blog entry on the Systems Approach has shown that even though we’re taught to think lineally, our thoughts can jump from one idea to another and our mind is constantly making associations from one word to another. This is why we need concepts and tools that help us bring order into the chaos of our minds. One of these tools are mind maps. 

You would like to know which InLoox PM version you’re currently using? Or would you like to send us a support request and need the version number for that? This video tutorial will help you find the system information.

^{Photo by Pixabay User geralt}

Working in teams is common practice in the business world. Almost every job ad lists “teamwork” as a required skill from prospective applicants. In the context of projects, an individual can’t do all the work alone, but needs to work with others to be able to complete the project successfully. Teamwork has its advantages, but also disadvantages, which is why some employees have reservations towards it. 

Photo from Picbasement

Goals should be smart, right? Or to be more precise S-M-A-R-T, which are five criteria that guide you in setting objectives. Find out what the meaning behind this acronym is.