How to be a better project manager

The Project manager is usually under a lot of stress as they are the ones in that ensure that the project runs smoothly and that everything gets done the way it should. Just like any other job description though, there are always ways to improve. Here are some tips on how to be a better project manager.

Tip #1: Define Responsibilities
As a project manager you need to make sure that everyone is clear on what their responsibilities are. This can turn into quite a project in itself because of there are many different departments when it comes to a company. Some of the workers may only come in for half the day to get their part of the project done, and others may spend the entire day every day with you. The best way to make sure that things run smoothly is to make sure that there are at least one or two people responsible for each piece of the project. This frees up your hands to take care of other responsibilities.

Tip #2: Take the time you need
In order to be a better project manager you have to be willing to put in the time to update your projects daily. While it might be tempting to just plug everything in at the end of the week like dates and numbers, you'd be surprised at how easily things get misplaced in one week or just forgotten. Before you know it, it's 5:00pm on Friday and you can't find half the stuff you need and don't want to spend another two hours putting in all the data. Do yourself a favor and time an extra 15-30 minutes daily to update your projects at the end of the day.

Tip #3: Put all your decisions in writing
Make sure that the decisions you make all end up in writing and that everyone confirms they are in agreement with the decisions you have made. Even during your busiest days you need to take time to put everything in writing. Keep a good history of what you've done and your reasoning behind it in case someone or more than one person is not around to hear what's going on with the project.

Tip #4: Find software that works for you
There are a number of different software programs and management applications you can use so you need to make sure that the one you buy works for your needs. Don't just pick something you've "heard" works well or that your neighbor recommended to you. The wrong software can cost you time and money so don't settle for one you haven't tried or just got because you didn't have time to shop around.

Tip #5: Mentor your team and be a part of it
Project managers can be more than just the guys who tell you what to do and where to do it. Take some time to mentor and lead the members of your team and you will find more cohesiveness and motivation to get the job done right. You can ensure that all team members all contribute effectively to the project and can help identify both efficient and deficient things happing with team members. As the project manager you can also help other team members feel confident in their job by giving helpful feedback and training.

These are only a few ideas on how to be a better project manager; there are many other ideas on what you can do to help keep the project running effectively and successfully. Project managers can make a huge difference in every project.

Rating: 0/5 (0 votes cast)

---

Categories: Management,

Help others find this article:
Socializer, Digg, del.icio.us, reddit, StumbleUpon

Favorites: Add to favorites
Tags: