subject: 10 Tips for Being a Good Project Manager [print this page] 10 Tips for Being a Good Project Manager 10 Tips for Being a Good Project Manager
A project manager (PM) oversees the successful planning, implementation and finalising of a project. This can take place in many different sectors but usually relates to the architecture and the construction industries as well as telecommunications, computer and software development.
It is important that a PM not only knows what to do, but is also methodical enough to know how to do it. The successful management of a project relates to how the PM plans, implements and finalises a project. This can relate to the way a PM actually manages his/her team and the way they respond in turn. So how do you become a good PM? Well here are 10 tips:
1. Think Don't take things at face value. Read between the lines when staff or clients request or ask questions. Understand why they are asking those questions and respond in a thoughtful way. This way you will know what impact your decisions will have on other staff or the impact of the project.
2. Research You need to be thorough, knowing exactly all about your staff and the project itself. You need to be perfectly clear about what you're doing, why you're doing it and how you're going to do it. In this respect you need to research your staff (their strengths and weaknesses) and the project itself.
3. Methodical Armed with information regarding your staff and the project, you can begin the set a methodical plan. Having a methodology and sticking to it is important for the project as this will ensure co-ordination. All staff members should know and understanding their roles and how they fit within the overall plan.
4. Set SMART goals As part of your methodology it is important that a PM sets SMART goals. This will break up the large end goal into smaller achievable ones that all staff can work towards. This acronym means that all goals should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timed.
5. Leadership A good PM will not just manage the project and the processes involved, they will also lead the staff and set an example. For staff to be involved in knowing all the necessary aspects of a project is important. Therefore as a PM leads, they should share their entire mental picture with all the team members and make them feel part of the overall plan.
6. Communicate Fundamental to being a successful PM, you should always communicate as effectively as possible. Whether this is via telecommunications, e-mail, group meetings, one-to-ones, or even social media it is important to keep the whole group up-to-speed with the project. It is also important to respond to queries as swiftly as possible.
7. Initiative There is a solution to every problem and an answer for every question. It is up to the PM to make sure that problems, queries and situations are dealt with promptly and not left unresolved. In this respect it is also important to pre-empt a situation and the resulting consequences. This should be ironed out in the research and methodology phases.
8. Respect Treat all of your team as you would expect to be treated yourself. Give them your respect, time and devotion and they will work more efficiently for you. Having a motivated team because the PM believes in them will give them belief in the project.
9. Perspective When it comes to the project and your team, always put decisions into perspective. Think, If I do this, how will it affect the rest of team?' Remember about the overall goal and the shared vision of the team; try not to deviate from this as it can affect morale.
10. Reward Recognise team member's efforts once they have achieved something good. This doesn't have to be just on a personal level, but announce to the whole team. This lets the individual know that you appreciate what they have done, and motivates the whole team to succeed as well.
