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Interview with Peter Taylor

 

Work Smarter and Not Harder

 

Interview with Peter Taylor

Author, Speaker and Trainer
Author of The Lazy Project Manager and other books

Interviewed by Yu Yanjuan
Journalist, Project Management Review: PMR (China)
International Correspondent for PMWJ

 

Introduction to the interviewee

Peter Taylor, Speaker, Author and Trainer, is most famous as the author of the book The Lazy Project Manager, an Amazon bestseller in the field of project management. His other books include The Thirty-Six Stratagems, Leading Successful PMOs, The Presentation on Presentations, The Project Manager Who Smiled, etc.

As a speaker, he is described as “perhaps the most entertaining and inspiring speaker in the project management world today”. He has made presentations to tens of thousands in nearly 30 countries.

He is also an experienced senior Program / PMO and transformation specialist with the ability to define overarching priorities and ensure project and program activity satisfies high level business objectives. His key strengths include: embedding robust governance to ensure successful delivery of £multi-million change programs and working with stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle to ensure delivery of tangible business benefits; introducing best practice processes aligned with an organisation’s culture and maturity. Working across multiple industries including Manufacturing, Health, Pharmaceuticals, FMCG, Aerospace and Finance.

Peter Taylor is based in the United Kingdom, but has readers, followers and fans worldwide.  Learn more about Peter at http://thelazyprojectmanager.com/peter-taylor

 


 

Interview

Part : “We can all learn from Chinese PM wisdom”

Q1.      It seems that you have a sound understanding of Chinese PM wisdom since you have published books titled “The Thirty-Six Stratagems”. What do you think we can learn from Chinese PM wisdom? How can Chinese PM wisdom help project management practice?

Peter Taylor (Taylor):    I really wouldn’t say that I have a sound understanding of Chinese wisdom but I was set a challenge by one of my publishers to write a modern day version of “The Thirty-Six Stratagems” and I loved the opportunity to read the original book, consider the messages and seek modern examples of the stratagems.

I definitely believe that we can all learn from Chinese PM wisdom, and Chinese wisdom in general. There is a calmness to such wisdom: deep consideration of contemplation and thought before action and this is what many project managers around the world keep forgetting. They are so busy with being busy that they don’t act in a good way by keeping in mind the long-term goals and objectives of the projects and rising above the day-to-day activities to assess the project’s health and progress. I’m not suggesting that you delay action but only that such action is considered, and options evaluated before moving on.

Q2.      Have you been to China? What’s your impression on project management practice in China?

Taylor:     Sadly no, I have never been to China, but I would love to have that opportunity. To see the country, meet the people, and speak at Chinese PM events and even deliver some training there would be amazing and a great experience for life.

I can’t really say too much about my impression of project management practice in China beyond reflecting that some of the most amazing engineering achievements have happened in China in the last 20 years and therefore project management must be well advanced in China…

More…

To read entire interview, click here

 

Editor’s note: This interview was first published in PMR, Project Management Review magazine, China.  It is republished here with the permission of PMR. The PM World Journal maintains a cooperative relationship with PMR, periodically republishing works from each other’s publications. To see the original interview with Chinese introduction, visit PMR at http://www.pmreview.com.cn/english/

How to cite this interview: Yanjuan, Y. (2019). Work Smarter and Not Harder: Interview with Peter Taylor; Project Management Review; republished in the PM World Journal, Vol. VIII, Issue XI, December. Available online at https://pmworldlibrary.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/pmwj88-Dec2019-Yanjuan-Interview-with-Peter-Taylor.pdf

 


 

About the Interviewer


Yu Yanjuan

Beijing, China

 

 

 

Yu Yanjuan (English name: Spring), Bachelor’s Degree, graduated from the English Department of Beijing International Studies University (BISU) in China. She is now an English-language journalist and editor working for Project Management Review Magazine and website. She has interviewed over forty top experts in the field of project management. In the past, she has worked as a journalist and editor for other media platforms in China. She has also worked part-time as an English teacher in various training centers in Beijing. For work contact, she can be reached via email yuyanjuan2005@163.com  or LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/yanjuanyu-76b280151/.

To view other works by Ms. Yanjuan, visit her author showcase in the PM World Library at https://pmworldlibrary.net/authors/yu-yanjuan/