As a project manager, your work life is very fast paced and you are going to be interacting with a lot of people. No matter whether you are considering a career in project management or you are about to start your first job in this capacity, these quick-fire tips should help you, whether you are an apprentice or an old hand at project management.
- You are only as good as your team, so make sure you assess skills and experience carefully when choosing your project team.
- Project management training is important throughout all stages of your career. You should never stop learning.
- Don’t be too proud to ask for help.
- Master the art of delegation. You can’t do everything yourself.
- Taking on a project management apprenticeship is a good way to get your foot on the career ladder.
- You must always plan for risks. Things rarely go as you intend them to.
- Be honest and transparent at all times. Don’t lie if the project is behind the deadline.
- Assign tasks based on skills rather than giving them out to the first person available.
- Don’t favour team members. It will disrupt the harmony of the group.
- Choose the right communication method for the subject being discussed. You don’t need to hold a meeting for everything. Sometimes a short email, quick video chat or phone call will do just as well.
- Don’t forget to say thank you. It costs nothing yet makes a huge difference to your team members and appreciated team members do tend to stay loyal.
- Create a list of tasks to complete for the following day before you leave the office.
- Set a period throughout the day to check emails, rather than responding as and when they come in.
- Don’t waste time. A project manager’s job is never finished.
- Always listen to what people are saying, rather than simply waiting for your moment to speak.
- Review every project so you can learn for the next one. Even if something has gone wrong.
- Deliver feedback based on the person you are talking to and the nature of what you are going to say.
- Agree overspends up front.
- Don’t overpromise and under deliver.
- Don’t make assumptions. Deal with facts and ensure there is a solid reason for the decisions that are made.
- Evidence is everything.
- Fail to plan, and you will definitely plan to fail.
- Keep open lines of communication with everyone involved in the project.
- Make use of project management software to streamline your processes.
- Get to grips with change management. There are bound to be changes throughout the project.
- Accept that you can be wrong at times, and admit when you are. Your team will respect you for it.
- Be mindful of scoop creep. When a change is requested, assess the impact on quality, time and budget and relay this to the client before proceeding.
- Set a time for meetings and stick to it. No one likes tardiness.
- Only invite people to meetings that are impacted by the outcome.
- Respect the cultures and national holidays of your remote team members – they will thank you for it.
So there you have it – 30 quick tips to make your project management job easier. Why not try some of these tips out for yourself – you might be surprised at the difference it makes to your next project, and the way you feel about project management in general.