Great Hints and Practical Tips to a Project Manager

Published: May 11, 2017 3 min. read
Svitla Team
By Svitla Team
Managed Operations
Great Hints and Practical Tips to a Project Manager

 

A Project Manager is an engaging, electrifying, and consuming job, isn’t it? It requires constant self-education and professional seminars and conferences become valuable educational tools as well as sources of new ideas and experience exchange for a PM. In this post, we collected key life hacks we picked up at the recent “Kyiv Project Management Day” conference. Hopefully, they will help you to better manage your busy schedules!

Realize that risks do occur

It’s important to prepare yourself and all project stakeholders for the risks. Informed means armed, so once any risks occur, they are not a surprise for you, and you are ready to deal with them, notwithstanding the fact that it’s even good that risks can happen from time to time. Adding a risk register allows you to prioritize, categorize, and estimate all defined risks. PM is in charge of managing the degrees of all risks that might happen. Risk register is an important legitimate shield for a smart Project Manager.

Constantly keep the so-called “bus factor” in mind

There are people in your team, who always take ownership of delivering excellent results and sharing the rewards of success. Do not lose them! Keep in mind that people are your major asset. Making your team happy is a smart way to go. We highly recommend that you always defend and support every valuable member of your team.

Promise only what you can deliver

And never ever lie to either your team or your customers. Always remain as transparent as possible. Dare to deliver more that you’ve promised. Meet deadlines/commitments. Set realistic deadlines for all your activities and always follow them. When possible, dare to finish before the due time. Set priorities, keep things on short do-to lists and remain flexible.

 

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Think about efficient communication

Keep in mind the Dunbar's number – 150 people – it’s the maximum number of relationships one person can maintain. Delegate what you should (share responsibility, but not roles!). Remember that only when the leader of the team begins to delegate, the team has all chances to reach success.

Make your customers happy

There are a number of things, which you should do to have a happy customer, starting from being devoted and business-oriented, to building a great rapport with a customer.. Meeting your customers in person is always a wonderful idea. It lets you better understand your customer’s culture and success criteria. Get to know what your customer wants and expects from you! Don’t be scared of your customer, try to explain your thoughts if you disagree with what he/she thinks. Share your ideas and give proof. Be positive and welcoming of your customer’s feedback and thoughts.

Written by
Illia Chmut
Great Hints and Practical Tips to a Project Manager

FAQ

What are the most important skills every project manager should have?

Risks are to be managed by planning for potential problems and setting out possible responses in an organized way. Good communication and delegation of duties will keep the team and stakeholders in the loop. Always build trust by promising only what can be delivered realistically, while striving to exceed expectations when possible. A team member who values other team members, nurtures the customer relationship, and keeps transparency is a valid project manager for long-term success.

How can a project manager keep their team motivated and engaged throughout a project?

A project manager keeps the team upbeat by recognizing their value, saving key talent, and making sure everybody feels included. Clear speaking, real promises, and steady open dealings build trust and cut down on annoyance. Help for personal growth pushes working together and cheering wins along the path, making a good place where folks stay keen and stick to getting results.

What are some effective ways to handle changes and unexpected challenges during a project?

A project manager has to forecast and analyze the risks that may occur due to changes and unexpected challenges, thus preparing stakeholders for such eventualities. There should be disclosure mainly towards the team and the clients whenever there are any changes. One should be flexible in terms of prioritizing work and delegating responsibilities to suit new circumstances while still fulfilling commitments.

How should a project manager prioritize tasks and manage time efficiently?

A project manager ought to set realistic deadlines for prioritizing tasks, and deadlines should be accompanied by short, actionable to-do lists that can be achieved within a day or two. Flexibility in the new situation should be accompanied by consistency in meeting commitments. Effective delegation of responsibility also involves time management, thus leaving the project manager with adequate time to concentrate on major issues and at the same time empowering the team.

What are the best practices for communicating with stakeholders and delivering project updates?

The best practices are to keep it transparent, share real progress, and never overpromise about the results. Regular updates about priorities, risks, and deadlines in a clear yet concise manner would do. Meet them in person if possible because trust has ears too; listen to their feedback so that alignment is achieved and collaboration becomes much more seamless.