Overview:

There are many ways to improve your professional knowledge and skills. One way is to increase your knowledge by reading current and relevant project management books. We've created book clubs that are designed to be small discussion groups led by a facilitator.
It's an informal group meeting for a Saturday morning where one person serves as the facilitator to guide and promote discussion. It is an excellent way to meet other chapter members and open a dialogue regarding trends and challenges experienced by those in project management roles.

And, earn PDUs!

Current Book:

by Ruth Pearce  (Author)

 

Ruth Pearce knows project management from the inside out. She knows the best project managers use their influence to engage their teams--and with that engagement comes motivation and commitment to the projects and to each other. Read Be a Project Motivator and watch your project teams thrive."

--Ken Blanchard, coauthor of The New One Minute Manager® and Servant Leadership in Action
 

What you have in your hands is the first project management book to take the latest research on character strengths - and with sublime skill, wisdom, and experience - integrate strengths seamlessly for project managers. Said simply: Ruth gives us "the how" of human motivation. As a result, project managers and their clients will be soaring after they read this book.
 
--Dr. Ryan M. Niemiec, author of Character Strengths Interventions and Mindfulness and Character Strengths, and education director of the global nonprofit, VIA Institute on Character. 
 

"Ruth is a master at connecting and engaging teams--and getting projects done. Every person who works on teams (and who doesn't?) needs to read this book." 
 
--Megan McDonough, co-founder and CEO, Wholebeing Institute

Successful project managers must engage and motivate others to achieve complex goals. Ruth Pearce shows how behavior, language, and attitudes affect engagement and how leveraging character strengths can help improve relationships, increase innovation, and build higher-functioning teams. This focus on character strengths--such as bravery, curiosity, fairness, gratitude, and humor--can help project managers recognize and cultivate the things that are best in themselves and others.

Many project managers do not have the authority to direct the activities of people on their teams--they can only influence them. The most influential people succeed by focusing less on themselves and their message and more on others. They pay attention, they are brave, they are vulnerable, they are curious, and they look for and acknowledge the things that are important about and to the other person. And they model the behavior that they want to see. This book tells you how.

Pearce provides tools and frameworks for building a culture of appreciation, understanding character strengths, mapping leadership qualities, understanding learning styles, identifying team roles, and executing plans. She also explores the factors that contribute to conflict and tensions, as well as strategies for getting through difficult times. We see these tools and techniques in action through "Maggie," a project manager who is struggling to motivate her team. Each chapter concludes with reflective questions to make the ideas stick and with key strategies for success.

Location:

la Madeleine French Bakery & Café

Cost:

There is no cost to attend this event. Attendees will be responsible for acquiring the book.

Agenda:

The facilitator will open the session and handle the meeting logistics. The group will rate and discuss the selected book.

Other book club business includes:

• Select the meeting facilitator for the next book (volunteer requested)
• Request a volunteer to write a review for the current book to be posted on the chapter website

Want to learn more? See the Book Club webpage.

PDUs:

You can earn PDUs by simply reading the book. Under the new CCRS guidelines, reading is its own category ("Education - Read"). You can earn up to four (4) PDUs for reading the book selection. You will also earn two (2) "Informal Learning" PDUs for attending the meeting. One volunteer will earn an additional "Giving Back - Volunteering" PDU for writing a book review or (2) PDUs for facilitating the meeting.

The alignment to the Talent Triangle will vary based on the book selection. Please note that "Giving Back" PDUs has a maximum allowed per certification cycle.
Please note: Category limitations may apply.

Questions:

If you have questions, please send an e-mail to the book club manager.