E-mail:
jsem@patrikpilous.cz
As I am writing this Project Restart report some time after the event, I will mention the things that really stuck in my mind. If you prefer video, take a look at the following report, which covers some of the points below.
Tip: Another report from the event was prepared by Freelo, which organised the whole conference together with Taste. You can also read what caught Michael Koch’s attention in Digichef magazine.
Martin Hausenblas, strategic Project Management
I put far more trust in tips and advice from people who have actually achieved something. Martin Hausenblas belongs to exactly this group. His talk had several interesting points that I still remember. I will mention two.
How do you solve problems? When something is not working, the easiest thing is to add effort. After a while, you need to evaluate it and, in the second phase, change your strategy if necessary. This rules out two approaches that I come across quite often. One group just keeps adding and reducing effort endlessly. The other group keeps changing strategy but never really commits to any path. Neither works.
The second point concerns hiring. Several speakers at the conference said that a company or founder needs a pull effect: people simply want to work for that company, with those people, under those conditions. The other point was that Martin talked about money as the first thing he addresses in job interviews. Only when there is agreement on that does he move on. It is often the other way round.
Be the kind of person people want to work for. For you personally. Am I someone people want to work for?
Martin Hausenblas
Petr Bernadič, how to Communicate a Project the Client Is Happy to Pay For
This part covered an important topic: building a relationship with the client. Much of it was about how to maintain or increase enthusiasm for the collaboration as it goes on. It often happens that a collaboration is agreed and then, for various reasons, enthusiasm and trust decline on both sides.
The key, of course, is communication.
First, set realistic expectations that are achievable and make business sense for the client. Then do not forget to communicate all your successes to the client properly. Great work without communication is only half the job.
The client does not want to pay an invoice because the work was done. They want to pay because it brought them something and paid off.
Petr Bernadič
Michal Musil, the Psychology of Negotiation, or How to Prepare and Succeed in Negotiations
Michal talked about negotiation and how different life can be for someone who knows how to negotiate. Using the example of world conflicts, he showed that if pride is set aside and the focus is on specific needs and goals, it is much easier to reach a compromise that satisfies both sides.
Another point was calibrated questions, which can open up a conversation and then lead to your goal. An example of such a question: What can I do to get a discount?
And finally, a quote that emphasises building the relationship first and only then moving on to negotiation.
The goal of negotiation is to build a relationship and understand the other side’s goals and needs. And then negotiate.
Chriss Voss
Michael Koch, a Project Called Meeting
Meetings are an important part of many professions, yet many people do not think about them or evaluate them. They simply attend them. Sometimes it works out and sometimes it does not.
Michael is one of the top people I had the chance to meet in meetings at Taste. Even so, he always analyses each meeting. What went well, what did not, what we could have done better.
Your preparation for a meeting can vary a lot. But have some. And I do not mean the professional side. It is also important to prepare yourself mentally, to arrive in a good mood, relaxed, authentic and with a rough script for the meeting. What will the outcome be?
Michael mentioned, for example, visualising the place you are going to, breathing, and warming up your body and hands. There is a lot to it, but the first step is to start thinking of a meeting as a project you can work on!
If you found this report interesting, you can also take a look at the report from SEOloger and SEO Restart.
