1. Establish Clear Expectations for Your PM
What are the differences between a project manager, program manager, project coordinator, and project administrator? Without clear expectations, project managers run the risk of missing the mark on what their leaders want them to do. PMs should work more closely to manage expectations and ensure they understand what is needed from their leaders.
Project managers offer a wealth of experience, insights, and skills to bring to an initiative. Some projects may need simple guidance and oversight that a project coordinator can provide. Larger, more complex initiatives require detailed oversight, integration between players, and someone who can ask tough questions. Project managers are well suited for the latter. Establishing clear expectations of your project manager allows for better collaboration amongst your team, as well as the successful completion of your project.
2. Understand Your Role in the Project
Project sponsors typically take on the main role in terms of the operation of the project at hand. They are responsible for being champions, clearing hurdles, resolving issues, or escalating to higher levels for support. Project managers and sponsors collaborate to establish a better understanding of what is expected from each role. Just as a project charter helps to define the constraints within which a project will run, a meeting with a project sponsor will help to define the boundaries of a PM’s operations within the project. The project manager’s role is to successfully deliver the project for all stakeholders, as well as the project sponsor.
3. Focus on Collaboration
Some project managers are expected to be glorified administrators of the project’s schedule, budget, issues, risks, and more. And while this is often an under-utilization of a project manager’s talents and capabilities, more experienced project managers serve as empowered guides, mentors, and decision-makers.
Senior project managers own decisions, issues, risks, budgets, and project scope. However, these senior project managers do not make these decisions in a void – project managers are responsible for owning the processes as well. For example, a PM owns the issue list. They ensure information is recorded accurately and that all entries are acted upon in a reasonable timeframe. They do not own each issue; the team is given autonomy over their tasks!
The project manager does not need to check in with a sponsor for permission to resolve each issue. PMs have been authorized to solve issues and seek help (escalate) when needed. This is why collaboration amongst the team, as well as the establishment of expectations for the project manager, is important to the project process.
Project managers – do you want to ensure that your work is effective? Need to clarify where and when to escalate or to drive a resolution on your own? Let’s connect!
