Project managers are among the most influential leaders in an organization. Every successful initiative in a company that leads to its growth typically starts as a project. It’s safe to say that without project managers, many businesses will not grow. Project management is a challenging role, from planning to implementing such a plan, the project manager overlooks everything aspect. Project managers are not only accountable for the progress and success of the project but also for the people in the team.
Project management can prove to be good training for anyone hoping to become a good leader. It teaches one to become more strategic, patient, and innovative. If you have your eyes set on trying to become a project manager, you need to learn about the tasks and challenges that come with being one. Here they are some of them:
Handling Projects of Varying Nature
Project managers need to master how to deal with uniqueness. Projects, for the most part, are temporary. Once a project has been successfully done and completed, the project manager will be assigned a new project to manage. This new project may be different from the previous appointment. The saying that a project manager needs to be flexible is an understatement. Every project needs a different approach, so the project manager needs to come up with a fresh strategy and plan each time.
Having to Assemble a New Team in a Hurry
More often than not, project managers need to build a team from scratch. Even though they just worked with a high-performing team previously, there are times when they need to build a new team because of unique project requirements. So, a project manager must assess what type of talents and professionals are needed for the project and know where to find those talents.
Furthermore, the project manager is also required to negotiate for resources that will be needed for the project. These resources may be necessary to make sure that the new set of people can work together harmoniously.
Exploring and Understanding the Needs of Stakeholders
When planning for a project, the manager needs to carefully look at the needs of the customers and stakeholders to whom the project is essentially directed to. The project manager needs to assess aspects such as timing, budget, and resources. The manager has to determine how the project will affect not just the company but the people, directly and indirectly, involved in the project. For instance, the project is to upgrade an e-commerce site. How will it affect the buying experience of customers? How will it affect the sales of retailers selling their products through the website? These are a few things that will fall under the care of the project manager.
Helping the Team Move Through the Project’s Phases
To complete a project, teams move through various phases: forming, storming, norming, and performing. The project manager needs to work to make sure that every team member is on board, although the team members may be working with each other for the first time. The project manager is expected to guide the team towards moving forward through each project phase to ensure they follow the project timeline.
Indeed, being a project manager is no walk in the park. However, once you can finish the project together with your team, you become a better leader than when you first attempted to become a project manager.
If you’re looking to improve your management skills, no matter in which facet, Phoenix Perform is here for you. Get in touch with us today to see how we can help.