079 Help Your ColdFusion Team Find Flow (7 keys to PM success) with Christine Ballisty
Christine Ballisty talks about “Help Your ColdFusion Team Find Flow (7 keys to PM success)” in this episode of ColdFusion Alive podcast with host Michaela Light.
https://teratech.com/podcast/help-your-coldfusion-team-find-flow-7-keys-to-pm-success-with-christine-ballisty/
Show notes
The role of a digital project manager today
beyond managing tasks, schedules and budgets
Her background in UI and web designer
Hats I wear
Account Manager
Positive biz relationship
Check-in calls
Planning ahead for enhancements
Business Analyst
Requirements and wireframes
Images help
Project Manager
Whiteboard
Support Representative
What is Flow, why is it so important today for you and your team
Flow = complete focus in current task, in the zone
Protect CF developers from interruptions
prioritize
Work smart vs multitask
Many hats
“Spin cycle” – work never ends
Productive, efficient and happy
7 keys to success
Plan for everything
That my team has what
PM tools
Google calendar – multiple calendars, color-coded, vacation tracking, blocking off time
Liquidplanner for resource allocation and projects and due dates and completion date, PDF timelines
Trello – boards of tasks and break by phases and person. Drag and drop cards
Slack with bots and status controls for DND mode
A channel per project
Can be noisy – mute channels, mark self DND, use red emoji for not available
On desktop and phones for immediate response
If Then This That
Monthly time logging reminder
Trello card comment reminder
Fun reminders of birthdays etc
Practice gratitude
Better happiness and productivity and creativity
Leads to flow
Kindness matters – shows that you care, flow more, better relationships with coworkers
Banish ‘the Ego’
Including complaining and negative thinking and talk
Important person in the company, not a cog in the machine
Clear priorities vs urgent – take a step back
Focus on our shared end goals
Music
Above and Beyond (EDM)
Jaytech
Brain.fm
Spotify search for look-alike track
Health is wealth!
Self care before you help others
Block self time in your calendar
Massage
Trip planning
Fun food at lunch
Lunchtime walk with coworkers
Might vent to release problems
Surprise coworkers with a coffee etc
Healthy people are happier and more productive
Care about
Enough Sleep helps me
Busy brain
Lavender essential oil diffuser by bed
Stay off phone by bed – don’t play games in bed
White noise app (fan, rain etc)
Melatonin
Set and shape expectations
Client expectation and reality match
And stay match during project
Evernote recap of all client meetings
Train clients to expect this
No misunderstandings
Less client anxiety
Client can use in their internal communication
Start by listening and reflecting back
Shared goals
Choose your battles
You will have fights – but you can choose which ones to respond to
Find solutions to end goal first
Keep emotions out of it
Have fun!
lastly, but not least of all,
Quarterly fun team events, coffee dates, draw pictures on each other whiteboards
Separate offices shared with one other person
Extra day
Remote developers
screen shares
Daily stand up meetings
Video chats
Liberal Work from home policy
Why are you proud to work with Mura and CF?
WWIT to make CF more alive this year?
What are you looking forward to at MuraCon?
Mentioned in this episode
LiquidPlanner
Trello
Slack
Google Calendar
Topic:
The DPM’s Guide to Creating Project Flow for Digital Teams
Description:
The role of a digital project manager today goes well beyond managing tasks, schedules, and budgets. DPMs are tasked with communicating direction, interpreting vision, foreseeing issues, managing dependencies and maintaining the health of their team during the process. DPMs are account managers, business analysts, project managers, scientists and sometimes the therapist. Considering this rapidly changing role, there is a lot of opportunity for error. In this session, Christine Ballisty (Sr. Project Manager of Blue River) will share what it takes to be a digital project manager in this day and age and provide insights on how to effectively create a flow for her projects, clients, and her team.