National Network for Equitable Library Service

Everyone is a project manager-projects are what all of us do day in and day out. Skillful project management is fundamental to survival in today's warp-speed world. Yet it is often misunderstood, leading to unrealistic deadlines, poorly defined goals, and wasted time. The secret to successful project management, argues Barry Flicker, is making and keeping clear commitments-far easier said than done in a time of complex, cross-departmental projects and sometimes unclear lines of authority. Through a story about people confronting daily frustrations on the job, Flicker demonstrates how shifting focus from blaming "the idiots out there" to examining one's own behaviors and assumptions helps people to overcome obstacles. Working at Warp Speed shows how following four simple laws can transform workers' most frustrating complaints from persistent barriers into potential breakthrough experiences.