Project
managers often face problems and challenges when overseeing a project and a
team. Especially if you are new in the role, developing the right strategies
for a successful project is key to impressing clients, your team and your boss.
These 5 strategies can aid in successful project management and can make the
process much smoother.
Selecting the Right Team
To
successfully complete any project, you need a great team behind you and the
right number of people. It’s all too easy to add too many people to the team as
you think this may get the project done faster. This is a mistake many project
managers make when starting out. It can prove more difficult if you’re having
to relay the same information to too many individuals. Look at the skill set of
the team and who would work well in what role. It may take more work from each
team member, but a well-chosen smaller team leads to less miscommunication and
often, better results.
Develop SMART Goals
If you do
not set goals for the team and yourself, it can be difficult to keep control of
the overall project. SMART goals allow you to set realistic goals
that enable you to know when to move onto the next part of the project. Nobody
wants to seem lost within their own project, and this will not look good to
your superiors. Look at each task as it’s being done and ensure the investment
into the project is being used in a way which completes the SMART goals written
out by you and your team.
Set Clear Responsibilities
It can be
difficult to lose track of each team member’s responsibilities unless you make
it clear and regularly check in. Keep notes on who is responsible for what and
you will find the project runs much smoother. Speak to your team members often
regarding their role and ensure they understand what exactly is expected of
them.
Motivation is Key
During a
difficult project, morale can begin to run low, and so a good project manager
will be able to pick up on this and motivate their team to get back to their best frame of
mind for the project. Rewarding them for completing tasks or completing a task
well will make their hard work seem worth it. This can be simply replying with
what a great job they have done via email, or you may want to treat the team to
breakfast.
Utilize the Right Business Tools
Using the right business tools can make project management easy. Project management software is something your business should certainly be using. This allows the team to have everything they need in one program, eliminating countless spreadsheets and documents, making the project much easier to run and handle. With features like a project management board, teams can organize tasks visually and streamline collaboration seamlessly. The Digital Project Manager has compiled a list of the 10 best project management programs reviewing factors such as usability, value for money and features and functions.
If you want to run a successful project, following these 5 strategies will help you to do so.
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