Leading projects successfully

Using your own project or that of someone else, you will learn how to create a flying start for result-oriented collaboration on a temporary assignment. You will be able to achieve a successful and impactful project outcome by creating structure while remaining flexible. You will learn how to gain more control and understanding by breaking down the project into bite-sized chunks and making realistic agreements with the commissioning party and project team members. In addition, you will learn how to give stakeholders a voice and how to clarify and set expectations regarding roles, tasks, and responsibilities.

These basic project management skills will help you gain more control over your project. The fourth day of this course is specifically aimed at the leadership role of project leaders, linked to project communication and dealing with team dynamics.

During this practical basic training, you will become familiar with and apply the various facets and uses of the project-based creation approach (PMC). This approach provides practical tools and techniques for both smaller and larger projects, using clear language and concepts.

During the training course, we will discuss the following topics:

• the essentials of project-based creation
• staged project approach
• project definition; the importance of a clear assignment
• collective intake; from implicit individual perspectives to explicit and shared agreements
• activity plan; a roadmap with milestones for allocating tasks, planning, and subsequent adjustments
• project organization; division of roles, tasks, authorities, and responsibilities
• project management; tools to monitor progress, make adjustments, and maintain support
• project start-ups and other project meetings; collective work sessions to work towards impactful results through shared commitment
• risk analysis; estimating and increasing the feasibility of your project
• interplay of different variables; experimenting with interests within/around your project
• action plan to further your project
• collegial advice/peer support, or a different topic based on the participants' preferences

On completion of the training course:
✓ you will know how to clarify a project assignment in a group setting to ensure a good start, set-up, execution, and the proper adjustments;
✓ you will have insight into the interplay of variables of a project;
✓ you will be familiar with the various roles, tasks, and responsibilities involved in the project;
✓ you will know how and when to pragmatically initiate a 'project start-up';
✓ you will be aware of your own project leadership style;
✓ you will be able to better define and give shape to your project role;
✓ you will be able to independently start and finalize a project;
✓ you will be fully equipped with the relevant terminology and conceptual framework, practical techniques, tools, insights, and inspiration to further your project.

What participants value about this training course:
✓ clear explanation about the nine steps of project definition
✓ challenging assignments in groups or pairs
✓ basic structure of a project with a commissioning party, project members, and a project result
✓ combination of theory and individual practice
✓ understanding how you work together as a project team, whether or not in a hybrid form

Participants of the 2021 training course rated it with an average of 9:
‘It was a very inspiring course that made me look at research projects in a different way. As a project leader, I now feel that me and my team are better equipped for the job.’