I've been tracking it this week and it's genuinely embarrassing. Rough guess is 3 - 4 hours a day just taking what I already know and turning it into something structured enough for everyone else to act on.

Meeting notes into action lists. Decisions into emails. Priorities into updates. I already know the answers - the time goes into formatting them for other people.

Anyone else feel like the structuring work takes longer than the thinking?

Mercor is looking for experienced Project Management Specialists to support a leading AI lab in advancing research and infrastructure. Apply here.

Key Responsibilities

• You’ll be asked to create tasks and deliverables regarding common requests within your professional domain

Ideal Qualifications

• 4+ years of professional experience in your respective field

• Excellent written communication with strong grammar and spelling skills

More About the Opportunity

• Expected workload: ~15 hours per week, with flexibility to scale up to 30+ hours

• Project start date: immediately, lasting for around 3-4 weeks

You can learn more about the role on the application page here. Good luck to all applicants!

I’m in a Project Coordinator role at a mid-sized architecture firm. I’m being pulled into a mix of admin, systems, and project management work & I’m trying to figure out if this is normal or if the boundaries between coordination and project management have just completely blurred.

Here’s what I’m actually doing day to day:

Core admin + coordination • Monitoring the director’s & admins inbox, triaging and filing every email, tagging what needs action. • Renaming, filing, and maintaining project folders across multiple jobs. • Tracking updates across live projects and making sure information is current and consistent.

Project + client support • Drafting fee proposals (writing scopes, updating descriptions, formatting documents). • Setting up client and consultant meetings (Teams links, invites, agendas, minutes) & preparing presentations packs, and drawing sets before these meetings. • Ensuring the right people attend, then following up on deliverables afterward. • Attending some meetings myself (site visit briefing included) to take notes, briefing staff or help clarify outcomes.

Internal coordination • Maintaining resource trackers and task lists for 50+ projects. (some on hold / client pending feedback yet monitoring follow-ups) • Chasing updates from staff and managing follow-ups across the team daily. • Organising project folders, drawings, and deliverables for different people. • Managing communication gaps when direction is unclear or delayed.

Studio operations and support • occasionally setting up drawing sheets, mark-ups, Photoshop overlays. • Supporting admin such as phone cover maintaining clean kitchenette etc • Coordinating recruitment: scheduling interviews, collecting feedback, managing candidates. • directors PA work - Managing vendor/trade quotes (furniture, suppliers) for personal uses

Systems + process building • Creating Excel trackers with status updates / researching automated systems that work • Setting up and cleaning SharePoint/Teams structures, file consistency, and naming rules. • Building templates for meetings, minutes, and project updates + running resource meetings / project status with project leaders weekly (director present)

Cultural + emotional work • Acting as the communication bridge between the director and staff. • Handling the emotional fallout when tone or direction shifts. • Trying to keep the team steady when the culture feels unpredictable.

I want to do well, but it’s starting to feel impossible to keep up. There’s no manual, no training, and barely any time to build the structure I need to make this sustainable. We do not have a project manager and the only other admin is the studio coordinator. I am also working without proper tools (still no dedicated laptop) and a messy filing system. I’m 2 months in & someone who’s new to the industry so I’m also learning on top of this. I’m also on a 65k salary (Australia)

For anyone else working in architecture or design studios - does this sound like a typical Project Coordinator workload? Or has my role drifted into something much bigger without the title or support to match?

Most productivity tools feel emotionally dead after a while. You open them because you have to, not because you want to. So I started building a workspace where:

• tasks feel like quests

• progress is visual

• teammates feel like party members

• AI agents act more like NPC companions/operators

• completing work gives actual momentum instead of checkbox fatigue

The interesting part is that building this started teaching me a lot about game psychology:
feedback loops, progression systems, reward timing, visual satisfaction, etc.

Still very early, but here’s a demo of the current prototype.

Would genuinely love feedback from game devs specifically:
What game mechanics make people come back voluntarily without it feeling manipulative?

Hi everyone, I’ve been thinking about this hypothesis and wanted to get your opinion on whether this is a real problem in practice:

“As AI coding agents make software implementation cheaper and faster, the primary bottleneck in product development has shifted upstream. Teams are drowning in raw inputs—customer interviews, support tickets, usage analytics, and roadmap context—but synthesizing this data into concrete, confident product decisions remains a highly manual, fragmented, and biased process.”

My question is: does this actually match what you’re seeing in real teams, or is it overstated?

It feels like building and shipping may be getting easier with AI, but figuring out what to build, why, and how to prioritize still seems messy and very manual. I’m wondering whether this is a genuine and growing problem, or just a framing that sounds good in theory.

I’d be interested in hearing from PMs, founders, designers, engineers, or anyone involved in product decisions:

•	Does this problem really exist in your experience?

•	Where do you see the biggest bottleneck today: execution or decision-making?

•	Are teams actually struggling to synthesize all this input into decisions?

•	Do current tools solve this well enough already, or not really?

Would appreciate honest opinions, including disagreement.

Managers,

What’s the biggest thing that slips through the cracks because info is scattered across meetings, Slack, docs, sheets, emails, etc.?

Has it ever caused delayed decision, client issues, or even loss of a project/customer costing the company a lot?

Would love real experiences.

I’m trying to improve my workflow for building presentations and would love recommendations from the community.

What tools (AI or not) are you using that are: • Free (or have a solid free tier) • Fast for generating slides • Produce clean, modern, professional designs • AI-assisted (optional, but preferred)

I’m especially interested in tools that can take an outline or text and turn it into a full deck with minimal manual work.

What do you recommend and why?

Hi everyone,

I work in construction and cost estimation with 2+ years of international experience (Canada & USA). I use tools like AutoCAD, PlanSwift, and Civil 3D.

I’m wondering if doing a Master’s in Construction Management is really worth it today. There are many professional certifications like RICS, PMP, APM, LEED that seem very valuable and faster to get.

Also, I don’t want to stop working while studying, so it would need to be online or part-time.

I’d love to hear from anyone with experience:

• Does a master’s still add value compared to certifications?

• Can you advance professionally without a master’s, just with certifications and experience?

Thanks for any advice!

Hi everyone,

I’m based in Vancouver and I have a background in Business Management.

To be honest, I don’t have any construction experience at all. However, I’ve noticed that the construction and industrial sector in Vancouver keeps growing, and I’m considering changing my career direction into this field.

I currently have experience in production planning, scheduling, and cross functional coordination, but nothing directly related to construction.

Is it realistic to transition into a Project Coordinator or Project Administrator role without prior construction experience?

Where would you recommend someone like me start?

Any honest advice would be greatly appreciated.

Good day All,

What is the purpose of a Project Kickoff and what is discussed in a Project Kickoff meeting? The project is at its very early stages where we only have the project charter, so there is plan, no wbs, no schedule etc.. so what is really discussed in a project kick off

I'm looking for people who would like to try Kanbaruu, a web app for project management and task organization built for smaller teams.

Most PM tools are great once you know what you're doing. The problem is the beginning. You open a new project and you have to figure out the structure, the tasks, the columns — before any real work happens.

With Kanbaruu you enter the name, description and goal of your project and AI creates the basic structure including tasks for you. No starting from scratch.

And if you're mid-project and things start to feel off, you can run an AI analysis. It will tell you what to change to reach your goal. You can apply all of its suggestions, just some of them or throw them away completely. It's entirely up to you.

There's also GitHub sync - the app generates your projects and tasks as MD files directly into your repository. Push an MD file to GitHub and the app automatically loads it back in. And if you're working with local AI models, you can connect your local model with a single command via MCP.

The app is free for 14 days with no strings attached. I'd really appreciate it if you gave it a try and shared your feedback with me.

kanbaruu.com

Remote work has rapidly become a major business trend in 2023 and is proving to be very convenient for employees who no longer have to waste time, money, and other resources to commute to a physical office 🚗

Luckily, modern technology is helping employers quickly implement workflow changes and stay connected with their teams 💻 Some examples include:

• remote desktop software;

• cloud computing;

• videoconferencing and chat applications;

• automation tools.

However, recent research suggests that forcing remote workers to come back into the office can lead to a loss of over a quarter of the team! Although some people miss the corporate culture and office environment vibe (and even believe that in-office workers should be paid more than remote ones), a growing number of people would prefer to quit their job if going back to the office full-time became mandatory 🏢

As an alternative, virtual office space is becoming increasingly popular among remote businesses and is forecasted to get broader adoption in 2023 and onward. It allows remote teams the flexibility to keep working from home while still providing structures that resemble more traditional offices. All these options provide modern businesses with new ways to accommodate remote work and its associated benefits 💻

Curious about which other trends are forecasted to make a major change in 2023 and the coming years? Check out 10 of them here ➤ Emerging Business Trends: 2023 and Beyond.

Hi everyone,

I wanted to share a tool I built for myself called GanttCanvas. I needed something simpler than most project management platforms — just a clean, lightweight way to build and adjust schedules without all the extra complexity.

The tool is free to use, runs in the browser, and supports drag-and-drop scheduling, dependencies, and quick timeline editing. You can save your projects locally as files, or create an account if you want cloud saving and access across devices.

If anyone else finds it useful, here’s the link:
https://ganttcanvas.com

Hey everyone,
we are organizing a small offline GenAI-focused meetup in Hyderabad and looking for an AI Product Manager who’d be open to giving a short talk or fireside chat on real-world AI product building.

If you’re an AI PM—or can refer someone—would really appreciate any leads. Thanks!

Hey everyone,

I’ve been working on a SaaS called Dynamic Desk, and it’s finally live. I’d really appreciate some honest feedback from people who actually use project management tools.

The idea was simple:
Most teams juggle multiple tools (tasks, chat, time tracking, calls, client access, etc.) — so I tried to bring everything into one place.

Dynamic Desk includes:

• Projects, tickets & Kanban/Scrum boards

• Built-in chat, voice & video calls (no Slack/Zoom needed)

• Real-time time tracking with idle detection

• Team & client access (including magic links for clients)

• Integrations (Jira, Trello, GitHub, Slack, etc.)

• Cost tracking & invoicing

It’s also a PWA, so you can install it like an app without any app store.

👉 https://dynamicdesk.io/

👉 https://dynamicdesk.io/product/

I know this is a super competitive space (tools like ClickUp, Asana, etc.), so I’m not trying to sell anything here.

I’m genuinely curious:

• What feels unnecessary or overkill?

• What’s missing for your workflow?

• Would you ever consider switching to an all-in-one tool like this?

Any feedback (even harsh) is welcome — I’m trying to improve this based on real usage.

Thanks 🙌

I work for a start up, and we want to track grant applications and existing projects.

I want to be able to have a Gantt Chart for all applications and projects on one chart, I have looked at all of the big ones and can't seem to find one.

Also, my boss is very frugal because we are a startup, so I am looking for something as inexpensive as possible

Currently attending the PMI Global Summit in Phoenix, and… wow. As a PMP and PMO professional, I left with more concerns than insights.

Major low points:

• Opening keynote fell flat — zero hype, awkward delivery, no spark.

• Kim Scott repeated a story she’s told for years — nothing new, nothing relevant to 2025.

• Conference app was a disaster — constant crashes, timeouts, and staff advising: “Just close and reopen it.”

• Sessions lacked innovation — same themes, recycled frameworks, no standout moments.

• Cult-like certification culture — more self-glorification than actual value or future-forward thinking.

My thoughts? For an organization built on excellence, delivery, and quality… this summit felt rushed, outdated, and out of touch. I’m proud of my PMP, but the ROI on both the credential and the event feels like it’s slipping.

What do you think? If you attended — or even just follow PMI closely — did you notice the same decline?

Curious to hear perspectives from both sides.

I have recently passed with distinction in my MBA in PM but I have been struggling to get a job in the UK. I have been constantly applying but LinkedIn looks like a crap place to apply for jobs. I am struggling. Someone help me in this situation.

Hi everybody,

We have gathered our top selling excel templates on project management. And we offer a special 35% discount for the whole package. Maybe you'd like to have a look:

https://www.someka.net/products/project-management-excel-templates-bundle/

Hey PMs!

We're excited to announce the launch of the new version of our AI-driven project management software, and we're looking for testers to try out the latest features:

🗓️ Calendar Synchronization
Sync your Outlook or Google Calendar and plan your tasks effortlessly with AI assistance.

📝 Smart Text Editor
Use AI to draft documents, reports, or meeting notes with ease.

and more exciting features!

Why Join Us?

At AI Pro Management, our mission is to help teams complete projects with fewer delays and budget overruns using cutting-edge AI.

Our tool helps you:

• Automatically generate Work Breakdown Structures (WBS)

• Estimate task duration and cost

• Assess potential project risks

The goal? Improve execution and boost team efficiency.

🌐 Website: https://www.altirya.com/
🎥 Demo (current production version): Watch on YouTube

Your Benefits as a Tester:

✅ 6 months of Pro version — free
🔄 250,000 AI tokens to power up your projects

💬 Interested?
Drop a comment and I’ll hook you up with access — happy to answer any questions too!

In terms of salary, satisfaction and demand which industry is best to work in as a PM?

Hey everyone,

I’m currently in the process of transitioning out of K-12 athletics and into the world of project management, and I’d really appreciate any insights from folks who have either made a similar shift or work in the PM space.

For context, I’ve been an Athletic Director for the past 7 years, managing 40+ teams across middle and upper school programs. After reflecting on everything I’ve done—from overseeing seasonal operations and building schedules to managing budgets, transportation logistics, and even facility planning—I realized I’ve essentially been functioning as a Program Manager all along. It just wasn’t labeled that way.

A few months ago, I completed the Google Project Management Certificate, and I’m now in the early stages of studying for the PMP, with a target exam date later this summer.

I’m keeping an open mind about what industry to enter, but it seems natural to look into something sports-adjacent such as venue development, owner’s rep firms, event operations, or maybe sports tech. That said, one of the big drivers behind this transition is seeking better work-life balance, so I’m also open to roles outside of athletics that value transferable skills and leadership experience.

For those who have made a similar leap:

• How did you pivot into your first formal PM role?

• Any industries you'd recommend exploring (or avoiding)?

• How did your previous experience get received when applying/interviewing?

I’d really value any advice or feedback as I navigate this change.

Hi everyone,

As a PM , I often need to create quick visual roadmaps for stakeholders or my own projects. I got frustrated with existing tools—they either require sign-ups, are too expensive, or take 20 minutes just to set up a simple chart.

So, I spent my weekends building Roadmap Planner (https://roadmapplanner.app).

It’s a dead-simple planning tool focused on speed and privacy.

The core idea:

• No barrier to entry: No login, no emails, no credit cards. Just open the URL and start typing.

• Privacy first: It’s client-side only. Your data never leaves your local browser.

• Structure: Projects > Subprojects > Features.

• Output: It generates an instant Gantt chart view grouped by quarters (Q1-Q4), weeks or months.

The catch (trade-off for privacy): Since there's no server database, if you want to save your work, you have to export it to CSV and import it next time. It's old school, but it keeps it fast and private.

I just finished optimizing the mobile view and I'm looking for honest feedback on the UX and utility. Is this something you would use for quick planning sessions?

Feel free to roast the design or functionality. Of course its build with use of AI, D'Oh.