The Influential Nonprofit Episode 106: Jami Yazdani: How Project Managers Can Lead And Influence

Jami Yazdani: How Project Managers Can Lead And Influence

Jami is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) with more than 17 years of experience managing a portfolio of innovative projects and planning initiatives.

She has a proven track record of leading diverse and collaborative teams and excels at facilitating consensus and keeping (even reluctant) teams on track.

Jami also has extensive experience designing and delivering engaging face-to-face and online training sessions and facilitating meetings and programs.

Over a diverse career spanning roles in business, libraries, and public higher education, including over a decade in leadership (Director) and management positions, Jami effectively led teams, championed change, and empowered staff. Jami has also volunteered and actively served on the boards of nonprofits and professional associations, working in leadership (Chair and Vice-Chair), marketing, programming, and mentoring functions. 

Jami brings practical experience, management expertise, a love of spreadsheets, and a sense of humor to project management, planning, and training.

One of the many overlooked aspects of project management is designing team communication. Communicate the scope and the desired outcome of the project clearly and establish a way for team members and stakeholders to be in communication all along the creation of the project. 

The fear of rejection is something that a lot of project managers struggle with. The fact is that when you face rejection, it’s not you that you’re rejecting but your plan or aspects of it - it may not seem like it, but they want you to be able to create the best plan that you can. 

Take the time to breathe and celebrate accomplishments and each milestone within a project. Make time to be grateful to each team member and highlight the great things that happened. 

Don’t abruptly move on to the next thing.  Do a retrospective at the end of a project, and take note of the best practices. Be proactive instead of reactive, and keep yourself at a sustainable and effective pace. Don’t overburden yourself, remember to reflect on what’s important. 

  • Being intentional about communication is one of the ways to get people together. I think that's an overlooked piece of managing people and projects.

  • Your role as a project manager is not to write the best plan, it is to get to the best outcomes. 

  • The effort that you put into planning, often other people just aren't going to recognize it. But they will recognize the good outcomes, they will recognize that you're facilitating collaboration and feedback.

Reach out to Jami Yazdani at:

Website: https://yazdaniconsulting.com/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamibryanyazdani/


Ask for and receive all you want need and deserve without feeling rejected, ineffective, or pushy.

Learn to manage your mindset, lead yourself and others more effectively and have the meaningful conversations that drive your most important work. 

Get your free starter kit today at www.theinfluentialnonprofit.com

Book your quickie intro call with Maryanne here! 

Connect with Maryanne Dersch: maryanne@courageouscommunication.com 

Maryanne Dersch