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Better projects start with clarity.

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THIS WEEK’S FOCUS

This week in our focus on project management foundations:

  • 5 resources every project professional should know.
  • Why they’re useful, but not enough on their own.
  • A challenge: share your favourite.

The 5 resources every project Leader should Read and the one thing missing

Welcome to Success Factors Discovery, your weekly email for enjoying projects + delivering with confidence.

If you search “best project management books,” you’ll get thousands of options.

Here’s my take, five resources I think anyone leading a project or big change should now.

The basics, people, the underlying drivers for success and the future of project management.


The Basics

PM Reading Material – Four Quick Fixes

PM Fundamentals: PMI & APM

Access these two resources from the big beasts of Project Management, the PMI and APM. Looking to answer the basics? You can’t go far wrong with these two online resources.

Read the PMI Guide Read the APM Overview

The Lazy Project Manager

A classic on how to deliver more by delegating—the art in project management. Understand the basics and learn to manage projects effectively.

Get the book

Getting People on Board

HBR: 10 Must Reads — Change

Looking to get people on the bus, or changing their behaviours to use the thing your project is producing? Check out this gem. Buy it for the first chapter alone by John Kotter, the godfather of change.

Get the book

The Underlying Drivers for Success

How Big Things Get Done

Research-backed insights from studying the world’s biggest projects. This shifts perspective from task tracking to strategy, decision-making, and behavioural science.

Get the book See APEX-4 Alternative

The Future of Project Management

The History of Project Management

“The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see.” — Winston Churchill. Understand the history of Project Management to understand where it’s going.

Get the book See Confluity’s Take

The one thing all of these miss?

They give you knowledge but not community. Books teach you the “what”, but wisdom grows when you connect with others who are doing the work.

That’s where we’ll head next week: communities of practice.


Tuesday Action

What’s the one project management book you’d recommend, and why? Hit reply and let me know. I’ll share the top picks in next week’s email.

Until next Tuesday.

Greg

P.S. If you’re interested to explore our core discovery, the 4 Success Factors that apply to all projects. That’s APEX-4 Project Expert Formula™. The playbook is now live and you can access it here and includes checklists and readiness assessments.

One quick, practical solution each week.

Confluity Project Model sitemap

Model overview

What are Jobs?

The model is organised into three Jobs:

Job 1: Set the Direction - shape the purpose into options and a preferred way forward.

Job 2: Prove It Works - test assumptions and reduce risk before going big.

Job 3: Make It Happen - deliver at scale and make sure people actually use what you build.

What are Simple Rules?

The model contains simple rules. These are short principles drawn from experience that help you make better decisions. Jobs, tasks, and plays help you put those rules into practice.

What is a Play?

A Play is a method or tool that helps you apply a rule or complete a task. Use the recommended Plays first for simpler projects before exploring others.

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