Peter Taylor - The art of productive laziness

APM Scotland branch kicked off 2014 with Peter Taylor’s entertaining presentation “The art of productive laziness” in Glasgow on Thursday 23 January. A large crowd of APM members gathered in the civilised surroundings of the Blythswood Hotel for networking and conversation followed by Peter’s session. This covered the three key stages which Peter defines as “productive laziness”: very hard work at the beginning, taking a “chill pill” in the middle and elegant closure and the end. 

Richly illustrated with anecdotes from his long and varied career, Peter showed how being “lazy” (a euphemism for a measured and focussed approach) can direct the project manager’s efforts towards what really matters instead of rushing around trying to do everything. Although the very nature of project management is vibrant and eternally in flux, Peter reminds us of Ernest Hemingway’s famous quote “Never mistake motion for action.” We all have lives outside of work and Peter recommends that project managers deploy the “productive laziness” technique to achieve a work/life balance. 

APM Scotland branch have some fantastic events coming up in 2014, the next being our “Beginners guide to APM - But not just for beginners” CPD events which are being held on consecutive evenings in Glasgow and Edinburgh (19th and 20th February). Whether you are a student, newbie or seasoned professional, these sessions aim to dig deep into the value and scope of APM and what it can do for you. We hope to see you all there!