(This post contains affiliate links. Please see my full disclosure.
Beth Spriggs says, “There is no cheating when it comes to project management.”
It has been covered with sticky notes.
My favorite books are practical and useful. It’s easy to read and funny. It is full of truth. Here are a few of my favourite quotes that I would like to share with you.
Discussing how to communicate difficult messages with colleagues
Indecision is a decision. You are choosing to accept the behavior for what it is. It is your job as a manager to point out the problems. The other person can then make the necessary changes. If you don’t tell them what you want, you can’t expect them to change.
Management of issues
Problems can be more difficult to solve when you are the problem solver.
This book is similar to the hard-earned advice a mentor would give. Someone who is open to telling it as it is and not worrying about what others think.
Advice on a wide range topics
This book is not based on the traditional project management cycle like many similar texts. Instead, it is organized thematically with chapters about communication and change, scopes, risks, processes, portfolios, and time. Teams, tools, vendors, teams. Information about how to start a project is also available (the only reference for the life cycle).
Each section in a chapter is numbered. This makes it easy to navigate and allows you to find the right advice.
It is hard to pinpoint what inspired Beth to include these topics within her book. Although some topics are not often covered, they are fascinating, such as expectations inflation.
There are many, including the answer to the question: “What qualifications does PMI offer?” It seems that they are strangely opposed to solid leadership advice.
I am certain that different readers will take different things from the book.
The Little Book of Cheats is a great gift idea for someone who is just starting out in project management or looking to start their first job.
Beth was kind enough to send me a copy of her book to review. Amazon has The Project Managers Little Book of Cheats.
More book reviews on project management can be found here.
