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Navigate the Microsoft Landscape with Echo Consulting We’re thrilled about our latest milestone: becoming a Microsoft Partner. It's a testament to our commitment to enhancing productivity and visibility across the Microsoft 365 landscape. While we've been assisting organizations in this endeavor for quite some time, our newfound partnership provides us with even greater access and direct support from Microsoft. This means we can dive deeper into Microsoft's suite of tools to ensure our clients get the most out of their software investments. But I can't tell you how many teams I've connected with who feel like their work lives in a million different places in the Microsoft environment, or who can't get the Microsoft 365 programs to work together in harmony. There are those who know that they could do more with Microsoft but are too overwhelmed to try and optimize. Others simply want to spend less time tinkering with their workflow and more time doing their work. And I want Echo to support those teams. Becoming a Microsoft Partner isn't only aligned with our values of Learn, Share, Grow, Care — it directly benefits our current and future network of clients. Does your team use Microsoft programs to work? Let's connect to see how Echo can help your team make the most of Microsoft. Microsoft offers an extensive range of tools, from the essential ones like Teams, Outlook, and Office to specialized applications such as PowerBI, Planner, and Power Automate. With the recent addition of Copilot (AI - New) and many more innovations, the possibilities can seem overwhelming. At Echo Consulting, we thrive on simplifying this complexity. Our goal is to help teams find their rhythm and optimize their toolset, enabling them to focus on what they do best. Stay tuned for exciting developments ahead. In the meantime, if you have any questions or need assistance, don't hesitate to reach out. We're here to help you navigate the Microsoft 365 landscape with confidence. We can't wait to hear from you!

Navigating the Gift of Improvement with Trust and Maturity I have always felt that feedback is a gift. However, there is a big difference between being told that you are doing something wrong vs sharing opportunities on ways you could approach something better. Either way, it takes trust on both sides and maturity to maximize the value of feedback. A few considerations before providing feedback: How are you delivering the feedback? Is it the best place, right audience, correct timing? How well do you know the person that you are providing feedback to? Have you considered how they best receive feedback? Have you established trust and credibility with the person you intend to give feedback to? Have the requested feedback or your opinion / help? A few considerations before reacting to feedback: Do you trust the intentions of the person giving feedback? – Are they giving you feedback to help you learn and grow? Do you respect the expertise and perspective of the person giving the feedback? – This is especially important if there are many approaches and determining the right approach is nuanced. Do you feel safe and open to feedback? – Are there external factors at play that may interfere with your ability to be process feedback in a positive light? Are you feeling the way you do about the feedback because of the method of the feedback delivery, or the feedback itself? I personally struggle with “right sizing” and “right timing” the feedback. I love to give feedback as soon as I think of it. I also get excited about opportunities for improvement, so I tend to give more feedback when I’m excited about the current version, and less feedback if it still feels like something has a long way to go until it gets to a solid state. -> This can lead to feedback getting missed, and team members not feeling fully appreciated when they have delivered value. The ability to give and receive feedback positively is an important skill for everyone. With virtual and hybrid work, some can have a harder time without body language, and personal touches. Others find it easier to handle things virtually and in writing. Recognizing our own preferences, and sharing them with teammates can help reduce friction and increase positive progress. Check out our other resources on communication. #feedback #teamwork #communication #collaboration #delivery #trust

This time of year, it seems like everywhere we look folks are talking about new year goals, new habits, and hitting the ground running as soon as possible. We love goals, and we know that setting SMART goals is a key step in gaining traction on your highest priority initiatives. But even with goal setting and new year energy, it can still be challenging to integrate strategic annual goals with the reality of day-to-day work. We're always experimenting to find new levels of efficiency and alignment with our work. One technique we’re exploring this year is sprints. We piloted sprints at the end of 2023, and our team is already seeing the benefits of this scrum-based approach to work. Every team executes sprints differently, but the goal is the same: to bring more alignment between strategic goals while managing capacity, and to foster collaboration within and across teams. If your team or organization could benefit from shaking up your approach to work, read on to learn about sprints and our experience so far. Ready, Set, Sprint! A key component of the Scrum methodology, a "sprint" is a defined time frame — typically two to four weeks — during which a team or org focuses on specific tasks and projects. These time-boxed sprints allow teams to connect and collaborate on the most important projects and goals, while providing some space for adaptation if priorities change. Here’s how it works: Step 1 – Sprint Planning: A team meets at the start of the sprint to select projects to focus on based on priority, team capacity, and organizational strategic goals. This sets the tone for what gets prioritized in the sprint. For example, if one of your sprint goals is to review lessons from the previous year with the team, the sprint might include “plan 2023 retrospective meeting.” Step 2 – Sprint Execution: Throughout the sprint, teams and team members channel their efforts on those agreed-upon items. There's some flexibility allowed here – if new high priority projects come in, the team can develop a mutual level of tolerance for those changes. But ultimately, the idea is that everyone is clear about the goals, priorities, and actions to engage with during the sprint. Step 3 – Sprint Close: At the end of the sprint, the teams reconvene to review the sprint success, discuss areas for growth, and adjust the sprint approach if needed for the next timeframe. Sprint Best Practices Like any methodology or process, there isn’t one perfect way to execute sprints. But there are some best practices that we can recommend. Get Clear on Your Sprint Goals: Define clear and concise goals for the upcoming sprint to ensure a shared understanding of what needs to be achieved. Once goals are on the table, you might consider running a quick pre-mortem exercise to evaluate the efficacy of those goals. Dig Into Your Project Backlog: It’s helpful to dedicate one or two goals (or a percentage of team effort) to backlog projects during a sprint, that way the whole org can chip away at long deferred work. Having a single source of backlog info with prioritization is a helpful tool for this. Include Everyone: If possible, try to keep your whole org on the same sprint schedule. We’ve been impressed with how working on the same sprint timeline has resulted in more collaboration, creative problem solving, and internal support within and across teams at Echo. Stick to Your Sprints: It sounds obvious but keep your project work organized within the parameters of your sprint. If a project isn’t completed within a sprint, don’t extend the sprint – just move the remaining project work to the next sprint. Have a Sprint Manager: It’s helpful to have one person on the team who manages the sprint meeting and aggregates the agreed-upon goals for each sprint. This could be a rotating role within your team, or a project for a team member who is looking to add more management skills to their professional development. What we really love about sprints – in addition to feeling clear and connected to our individual and overall goals – is that we can continue to develop our approach over time. Whenever a sprint ends, the team meets to review the sprint, discuss challenges, and come up with ways to address those challenges in the future. Even though this is a new approach to work for our team, we’ve already seen some drastic changes based on what works for us, and what we need to improve upon. The short, time-fixed nature of sprints allows for easy adaptability and iteration in the short term and over time. Embracing the sprint approach is a great choice for teams seeking efficiency, adaptability, and continuous improvement. The structured nature of sprints allows teams to break down complex projects into manageable chunks, fostering a sense of focus and clarity. By committing to a specific set of tasks within a defined timeframe, teams create a rhythm that promotes predictability and transparency. And last but not least, the iterative nature of sprints also enables teams to gather feedback early and often, facilitating quick adjustments and improvements. Does planning sprint meetings make you groan? Check out our tips for running engaging, effective meetings.

Templates + Worksheets Whether you're a seasoned project manager or just starting out, having the right tools at your fingertips is essential for success. That's why we've put together a collection of free, high-quality project management worksheets that you can download and use today! ​ Download your free project management worksheets today and start making every project a success! Calculating Project Health Guide SMART Goals RASCI Guide Gap Analysis CRAID Log Template Communication Tips for Microsoft

Ditch the chaos. Find your groove. Get the visibility, organization, and direction your team needs to do their best work – without the headaches and time wasted. Let's get started Explore More Platforms Creating solutions that fit for every stage Where are you on your solution journey? From concept to completion, our team is prepared to step in at any stage of your project. We’ll help you build your project from the ground up or hop in while plans are already in action. No matter what stage your project is in, we offer support by identifying opportunities for improvement and suggesting an optimal solution. Shift You know what you need, and you’re looking for the perfect tool to get the job done. We’ll use our extensive experience with technology solutions to recommend a tool that fits your needs and rebuild your current system in its new home. Tell Me More Scale You’re outgrowing your tried-and-true systems. You need an upgraded solution to set you up for intentional growth with the infrastructure to match. We’ll work with you to assess where you are today, envision where you’re headed, and build a tailored solution that supports the evolution of your company. That's me! Strengthen Your process is big. It’s powerful, but it lacks efficiency. You need a solution that brings all the pieces together in a coordinated, harmonized, and practical environment. We’ll build a system that captures every detail of your process, so you can focus less on navigating your system, and more on getting the work done. Yes, please! Why Echo? We foster self-sufficiency, not dependency. We build foundations for growth. We put on the training wheels, teach you the tools you need to succeed, then release the handlebars and let you ride. We’re here to push your company to the next level, and to build the independence it takes to stay there. We work with low code and no-code solutions so your team can confidently tackle problems long after implementation. Learn How We’re your partners, not your vendors. With other consultants, there’s a tendency to stay behind company walls and prioritize their own company goals. We’re our clients’ allies and advocates, and we don’t accept commissions from tech vendors, so we have no incentive to give them more software than they need. Ultimately, communication, change management, and adoption strategies are more important than picking the “right” software – but we’ll help you do both. Meet Our Team Resources The latest from Team Echo Molly Yanus Echo Consulting: Your Trusted Microsoft Partner We’re thrilled about becoming a Microsoft Partner. Learn how our partnership can boost productivity and efficiency for your team. Molly Yanus Mastering the Art of Feedback Explore the art of feedback mastery! Discover expert tips for navigating constructive criticism with trust and maturity. Amanda Wood Make Progress on Strategic Goals with Sprints It's great to have goals. But how do you align your strategic goals with the day-to-day realities of work? Enter, Sprint Planning! Echo Consulting Echo Greatest Hits: Top Videos from 2023 It’s been quite a year for the Echo team! We’re taking a look back at some of our favorite and most popular video resources to date. All Resources Our Clients Why do companies love Echo? "Master collaborators in every sense of the term." From the outset, Echo asked all the right questions and was able to provide me with some immediate suggestions to get us on the right course. With our original scope of work nearly conquered, I’m keen to tap Echo's goal oriented, thirst for solving the hard problems energy for the next phase. Jason LaShelle Creative Studio Manager at Burton Snowboards

Upcoming Events Looking to shift, scale, or strengthen your current platforms and processes? Join us for webinars, trainings, and other events to learn more about project management softwares and processes. Events include Smartsheet PMO webinars, Asana feature comparisons, ClickUp trainings, and more. Register today! Mon, Apr 15 Leveraging Data for Project Management Apr 15, 2024, 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM Microsoft Teams (link via email) No matter what kinds of projects you manage, you’re bound to have project data. But what do you do with all of that data? How can you use it to get better project insights and traction? Join this live session with Caroline Henne to utilize Power BI and other tools to support your projects. Share Register Event Calendar