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🌟 Discovering Agile Through History: A Leadership Journey Recently, I had the privilege of completing a leadership program by McKinsey & Co., where I encountered the Agile concept for managing projects and solving problems. At first, I found it challenging to grasp its full rationale—until I made an unexpected connection to one of my favorite topics: history. As a history enthusiast, I recalled Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of the French, and how he revolutionized 18th-century warfare by introducing the corps system. This innovative structure divided his army into smaller, self-sufficient units, each with its own infantry, cavalry, artillery, and support elements. Every corps operated independently but could also combine seamlessly with others when needed. This flexibility allowed Napoleon to mobilize his vast forces rapidly and adapt to the dynamic conditions of battle, giving him a decisive edge. Sound familiar? Napoleon’s corps system is strikingly similar to the Agile methodology. Agile emphasizes small, autonomous teams that collaborate and adapt quickly, driving efficiency and delivering value. The parallel was an "aha" moment for me: if this approach proved effective in leading armies through complex challenges centuries ago, why wouldn’t it thrive in modern problem-solving environments? For me, this experience was a reminder that unexpected connections can lead to profound insights. History, often seen as a hobby, became a lens through which I understood a contemporary concept. It reinforced how past lessons can inspire innovation today. Have you ever drawn inspiration from history—or any other unexpected source—to solve a modern challenge? I’d love to hear your thoughts and stories! #Leadership #AgileWorking #InnovationThroughHistory #ContinuousLearning #McKinseyLeadership

So that is another big step done! Career Transition Workshop complete! I would just like to say a big thank you to Lindsay Smith-Wightman BSc (1st Class Hons), PGCert, PGCE from the Career Transition Partnership for helping me with the preparation for the road ahead. I have genuinely benefitted a lot from the advice and guidance you have provided and I am, without a doubt, more comfortable with the stresses of leaving the military behind and stepping back into the real world. Next step - my #CertifiedScrumMaster course begins in little over a month. Let the challenge begin Scrum Alliance! #Agile #ProjectManager #Military #CTP

And the acronyms continue… Matt Quick successfully guessed this week’s acronym conundrum. He is a very clever fellow… ⭐️CSM⭐️ Yes. Some of you are or were CSMs in the Army. Command Sergeant Major. You led with grit and tenacity, advising and inspiring leadership to become apparent in all ranks. You got the job done no matter what. Military CSMs are rockstars. And then the civilian world comes at you, and CSM suddenly has a new and different meaning… In corporate America, CSM most often stands for Customer Success Management or Customer Service Management. This refers to coordinating tasks and processes that enable maximum customer satisfaction and resolve customer issues and/or requests efficiently and effectively. It’s tracking, analyzing, and continuously improving your service to your customers. And it’s a vital part of any business selling porducts or services. CSM can also be short for Certified Scrum Master. These CSMs are folks that are project managers working cross-functionally, often across industries, utilizing agile methodologies. Neither of these civilian CSMs are quite the same, but nonetheless incredibly valuable. Stay tuned for next week’s acronym conundrum… #acronymconundrum #youdontknowwhatyoudontknow #csm #commandsergeantmajor #customersuccessmanagement #customerservicemanagement #gritandtenacity #militarytransition #militaryfamilies #militaryspouses #veteranemployment #thursdayacronyms

🌟 Connecting Military Professionals with Project Management 🌟 On this episode of Getting The Work Done, Matt Quick Head of Military and Veterans Programs at Project Management Institute , shares how he’s bridging the gap between military experience and project management. Matt advocates for the profession by highlighting the similarities between military roles and project management, focusing on leadership, communication, and team management as keys to success. Through his efforts, military professionals are discovering they've been applying project management principles for years without realizing it—and now they’re getting trained and certified, often at no cost. 🎧 Discover how Matt is building a thriving community for military professionals in project management: ➡️ YouTube: https://hubs.la/Q032bRDz0 ➡️ Spotify: https://hubs.la/Q032bQVn0 #ProjectManagement #MilitaryLeadership #GettingTheWorkDone #PMI #VeteransInProjectManagement

🌟 Connecting Military Professionals with Project Management 🌟 On this episode of Getting The Work Done, Matt Quick Head of Military and Veterans Programs at Project Management Institute , shares how he’s bridging the gap between military experience and project management. Matt advocates for the profession by highlighting the similarities between military roles and project management, focusing on leadership, communication, and team management as keys to success. Through his efforts, military professionals are discovering they've been applying project management principles for years without realizing it—and now they’re getting trained and certified, often at no cost. 🎧 Discover how Matt is building a thriving community for military professionals in project management: ➡️ YouTube: https://hubs.la/Q031gwD10 ➡️ Spotify: https://hubs.la/Q031ggvz0 #ProjectManagement #MilitaryLeadership #GettingTheWorkDone #PMI #VeteransInProjectManagement

Does your business need exceptional leadership and team management to navigate complex projects? Veterans transitioning from military service to civilian careers are an unparalleled source of these skills. In his latest article, Robert Sunderland MSc reveals how these heroes deliver leadership with clarity and excellence. Stay tuned for the rest of the series, where we'll uncover more ways that veterans' discipline and strategic thinking can be beneficial in project controls. #ProjectControls #LeadershipSkills #Veterans #TransferableSkills

How does your organization hold its people accountable? Whether formally through a performance review process, informally via individual relationships, or a hybrid, we know if we don’t hold each other accountable, then we won’t achieve our goals. The Navy's Culture of Excellence (COE) 2.0 emphasizes “Accountability to Each Other” to achieve greatness. SOFware’s FORGE™ application is ready to support this initiative; equipped with tools for 360° assessments using surveys and peer evaluations to help keep teams accountable. 🌍 Value & Respect Everyone: FORGE™ provides tools to track and enhance team dynamics 📚 Be Brilliant on the Basics: With comprehensive data tracking, FORGE™ helps teams master the fundamentals by providing insights into performance over time. 🏆 Achieve Excellence: FORGE™ supports continuous improvement by enabling self- and peer-assessment and feedback which empowers teams to strive for excellence in all they do. Integrating FORGE™ into the Navy's COE 2.0 framework can help organizations build a culture of accountability, respect, and excellence. Contact sales@SOFwarellc.com to schedule a demo today! #Military #NavyExcellence #SOFware #FORGE #Innovation #Leadership #GreatTeams

🚀 Adapting Military Principles for Organizational Success During my time in 1st Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, the Devil's Brigade Fighting Imperatives was key to the units/organization success and their operational success. While rooted in military tradition, these imperatives offer powerful lessons for civilian organizations striving for excellence in operations, project management, and leadership. Here's how they can translate to the workplace: 🔧 Continuous Improvement "Standing priorities of work start every time you stop." Every pause—whether a project ends or operations slow down—is an opportunity to refine processes and identify improvements. A culture of continuous improvement ensures no time is wasted and progress is constant. 📣 Transparent Communication "Reporting is not an option; it is a necessity." Timely and accurate reporting is critical to keeping everyone aligned. Clear communication fosters accountability and ensures challenges are addressed before they become roadblocks. 📚 Empowered Teams "Informed units are lethal units." Knowledge is power. Teams that are equipped with the right information and understand their mission are far more effective. Sharing insights and providing ongoing training are key to unlocking potential. 📋 Planning Before Action "Actions require operation orders." Deliberate planning is the foundation of success. Whether it's a new initiative or a strategic pivot, a clear plan with defined roles, objectives, and timelines ensures focused execution and better outcomes. These principles aren’t just for the battlefield—they're a roadmap for success in any organization. By embracing continuous improvement, clear communication, informed decision-making, and structured planning, we can create more agile, resilient, and impactful teams. 💡 How do you apply similar principles in your organization? Let’s share and learn from each other! #Leadership #ProjectManagement #ContinuousImprovement #Teamwork #Adaptability

After years of leading complex military operations and now pursuing my PMP certification with Institute for Veterans and Military Families - IVMF , I've noticed something fascinating about project management in both worlds. Military experience taught me invaluable lessons you won't find in any PMBOK guide - like how to manage resources when plans go sideways at 0300, or how to lead teams under extreme pressure. That said, PMP training has given me a structured framework to translate these battlefield-tested skills into corporate language. The military trains you to be adaptable, decisive, and mission-focused. The PMP teaches you standardized methodologies and stakeholder management. Together? They're a powerful combination. To my fellow veterans: Your military experience is more valuable than you might think. Those risk management skills you developed planning missions? They're gold in civilian project management. To my civilian colleagues: Some of the best project managers I know never opened a textbook - they learned in the field, making real-time decisions when failure wasn't an option. The bottom line? Both paths have their merits. The key is recognizing how they complement each other. #VeteransInTech #ProjectManagement #PMP #MilitaryTransition #Leadership

In Part 1 of our series on Military Skills that Translate into Project Management We talk about my Top 5 Military Skills Perfect for Project Management: Veterans bring a unique set of skills to project management: 🔶 Discipline and time management 🔶 Strict adherence to schedules 🔶 Commanding leadership 🔶 Team coordination 🔶 Risk management and adaptability Discover how these skills translate seamlessly into civilian roles. Link to article in comments. #TheRiskBlog #44RiskPM #Mil2PM #ProjectRiskManagement #ProjectManagement #Leadership #MilitarySkills #VeteranHiring