Nov 15

Written by: Nick Matteucci
Sunday, November 15, 2009 10:06 PM

 
I was recently asked, “How do you communicate the "value" of your service/product/work to your client/boss?”

Step 1:  Set your goals with your boss/client?  In my opinion there are only 3 real strategies that these goals should directly relate to:

1) Make more money
2) Save money
3) Mitigate business risk

It is a good idea to brainstorm around all 3 and determine right from the get go how success will be measured so there is no ambiguity if the goal was met.

Step 2:  Once you have your goals in place you need a simple, sensible, and supportable goals and then use project management to communicate your time, budget, resources, and progress against key milestones. Also identify the risks.

As your projects go along track issues, changes to the original scope, and key documents.

Step 3:  Have regular generated reports with metrics ready to demonstrate the value you are earning.

Step 4:  After any project completes assess the project, make lessons learned, and then setup a template if you are ever going to repeat the project.

You can steal, benchmark, or just use our VPMi for 30 days with no obligation if you want to get the hang of it and pilot it with your boss!

PS: If all that doesn't work (it didn't for me) and you feel like you are spending more and more time educating your boss then following your vision/passion then it is time to quit. That is what happened to me. I couldn't convince my boss that web-based project, resource, and portfolio management was better then staffing more consultants then were needed. I also showed my boss how happy customers were with a complete solution and that they didn't need as many $200/hour consultants running around.

I quit, started VCSonline 11 years ago with several others that shared my vision/passion - and never looked back.

Take care!

Warm Regards,
 
Nick Matteucci, Co-Founder www.VCSonline.com
VPMi = Simple + Sensible + Secure SaaS Project Management Software
 
About the Author: Nick Matteucci is a co-founder of VCSonline.com an enterprise (onsite) and SaaS (online) project management software company headquartered in St. Louis Missouri. Mr. Matteucci is also an recent board member and the Chief Technology Officer for the PMI ISSIG. 

When not obsessing over virtual project management best practices Mr. Matteucci enjoys spending time with his wife and three small children. He also enjoys travel, marathon/distance running, and all things automotive. 

 

 

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