• Clear, calm communicator
• Empathetic
• Adaptable and flexible
• Curious
• Invested in the work
Eagle Eye for Project Issues
Each project is unique and comes with its own set of goals, challenges, clients, team members, ideas, conflicts, budgets, and deadlines. That’s a whole lot to wrap your head around. Here’s the thing: as the PM, you’re dropped right in the middle of all of those issues, so you’ve got to have your finger on the pulse of everything. You’re constantly concerned about the well-being of the project and the team, as well as the happiness of the client. Chances are, there’s going to be a speed bump or two, and it will be up to you to resolve them. If you’re good at what you do, you’ll spot those issues before they become big problems and handle them with ease.
Clear, Calm Communicator
Communication is a huge part of project management. Being transparent, direct, and very clear about important project information will make any detail or situation easier to handle. It’s also important to let your own style and personality shine through in your communications when the time is right. The best project managers are true chameleons when it comes to communication. They have go-to methods and tools to help facilitate project communications, but when it comes to one-on-one conversations, they adapt to what will help them encourage the team, build relationships, prevent and solve issues, and even share difficult news.
NOTE MORE ON COMMUNICATIONS
Chapter 7, “Communicate Like a Pro,” is all about good communication practices. Jump ahead to find better ways to communicate with teams and clients.
Empathetic
Conflict happens, and as a project manager you have to set your emotions aside and do what is best for your project. This means putting yourself in the shoes of the people you’re dealing with—whether it’s a team member or a client—to understand intent, motivations, and possible outcomes. To truly understand an issue, you have to fully comprehend and understand it, not just listen. In order to do that, you have to understand and dissect what is being said to make sure that you get it. You can’t do that without talking to those involved with the sole intent of understanding—and solving—the root cause of the problem. Sometimes, that means you have to be the tough guy and not show any emotion.
Adaptable and Flexible
There’s no doubt that projects change from the minute you say “go,” and you have to adapt to the change that is thrown at you. This could mean changes in scope, team, and even project goals. Regardless of the change, as the PM you have to find ways to keep a project moving, no matter what. Sometimes, you have to be flexible in your process, about the way you communicate, or even on what your team intended to deliver. Change isn’t always easy to accept, but knowing that you can find alternate ways to work and achieve success regardless of its impact will keep you ahead of the game mentally.
Curious
No matter where you work, ideas are flowing and technology is changing. Teams, particularly in the digital space, are collectives of creative minds who come together to meet client goals through design and technology. It’s an exciting place to be, and you’re going to be constantly challenged with innovative discussions and ideas. Take advantage of the people and resources around you to keep learning and to better your understanding of your industry and how your clients want to leverage your teams’ skills. You might do this by reading blogs and books, attending meet-ups and conferences, asking your colleagues questions, or sharing ideas yourself. Additionally, you should do everything you can to understand how other projects within your organization (or even a client’s organization) operate. The more you know about operations and similar efforts—and the people involved—the more you will be able to make better project decisions. Lastly, it’s important to always be open to learning (and teaching) to keep your skills sharp.
NOTE CONTINUOUS LEARNING
It’s not always easy to find great resources to stay abreast with what’s happening in project management. Check out this always-updated list of great resources for PMs: http://brettharned.com/resources/.
Invested in the Work
This almost goes without saying, but the best project managers are the ones who get out from behind their spreadsheets and play an active role in their projects. Don’t just attend meetings and take notes. Participate in them. Hunt down problems and address them. Share your ideas. Share conversations you’ve had with the team and clients. Shape the path of the project and be the PM who not only cares about what happens internally on the project, but also how your project will succeed when it launches. And, if you are that part-time PM, embrace the role and give it just as much attention as you give your other work. Know that taking on the role of PM doesn’t just mean checking off items on a to-do list. It’s about thinking critically about the path of the project, its people, and potential outcomes. Keep your eye on project goals and do your best to help the team do the same.
Typical PM Tasks
Again, what you do as a project manager will vary from company to company, but there are some core tasks that will strengthen the perception of your role as a PM. We’ll cover these in later chapters, but here’s a high-level view of what you should be doing as a PM:
• Create project estimates
• Craft, build, and manage the process
• Create and manage project plans
• Manage tasks
• Report on status
• Plan your team’s time
• Motivate teams
• Monitor scope
• Wrangle calendars and meetings
• Facilitate communications
• And much more
Create Project Estimates
Without a basic understanding of what it takes to complete a project, you’ll be lost. You should try to gain a general understanding of each person’s project role, the effort required, and how that might match up to your project scope and deadline. A great way to do this is by sitting down with people who do jobs that you don’t fully understand. Maybe there’s a developer or designer on your team who would be willing to walk you through their process to give you a better understanding
