1. Adequate and Appropriate Project Planning
Though not exciting, planning is an integral step in project management. Project planning takes a lot of energy and time to work on all the requirements and details so as to reduce the possibility of errors. Most of the project manager’s time should ideally be spent on the planning part.
Request the management to get involved in the planning sessions so as to improve the traditional Project Management Office to a top-performing team that delivers significant value. This will increase the chances of success of the project, minimize the risk of misunderstanding and missed objectives as well as create a shared vision.
2. Effective Communication
An entire project could be completely derailed due to ineffective communication. The project is primarily run by people, and we all bring our personal lives, work ethics, cultural norms, own objectives, personal experiences, and biases. This creates the possibility of saying or hearing things incorrectly. Effective and frequent communication is essential for the project manager and project management.
Work on being respectful, clear, accessible, flexible, consistent, leading by example, motivational, energetic, focused objective, transparent and trustworthy.
Break down large project teams into smaller functional groups to handle communication easier. Updates to the entire team are communicated formally.
3. Earn the trust of stakeholder
In order to keep the stakeholder engaged throughout the project from the beginning to the end, they will need to trust the project manager. If the stakeholders do not understand their role in the project, the benefits and the necessity of the project, they are not likely to completely contribute or support a project.
As a project manager, you should be fully engaged and also expect stakeholder engagement. It is important to clarify areas of responsibility, expectations and team member roles as well as providing timely communications and remaining transparent.
It is important to address conflict directly and immediately, find out the root cause as well as allowing the stakeholders to help in resolving the issue. People will move on faster if they can take part in finding the solution.
4. Measure and monitor performance
Measuring the performance through quality, cost and time is important in knowing if a project is successfully managed. Measuring performance can be achieved by actively and regularly monitoring it. It is impossible to know whether a project is on budget, on schedule, or meeting other objectives.
Determine the methods and techniques to be used to measure and monitor timelines, budgets and activities and making sure it is done frequently. Regularly communicate the required actions and communicate the results with the management, stakeholders and project team, delegating the responsibilities appropriately. A follow up is also essential.
5. Use The Necessary Techniques and Tools
Project management is complicated enough without tasks having to be performed manually instead of being automated so as to reduce increase effectiveness.
During the early stages, make sure the required external and internal tools and plant machinery hire for the project are available. The outcome of the entire project or a phase could change if you wait to find resources deep into the project.
6. Be Strategic
There is great significance in aligning projects with business goals. Organizations should spend their effort, human resources, time, and money on the business’ forward-facing strategy. The strategy should lead to business activities such as projects. By using a proper strategy, project managers can avoid underutilized Project Management Office resources, ambiguous Project Management Office direction, the declining success rate of the project, and low performance. This helps create a shared vision.
Portfolio, program and project managers hold powerful experience, skills, and knowledge and should set up a Project Management Office in the organization whose purpose is to ensure projects benefit the organization.
