Do's and Don'ts of Project Management

You might be a Project Manager. Nevertheless, the art of Project Management is not something that you can learn instantly. It is not something that can be taught instantly as well. It is a skill that you should develop over time. You can reach the level of expertise in Project Management with experience. You might even have this new job as a Project Manager with your diplomas and certificates in this domain. Still, you will find that there is room for improvement further. As a Project Manager, you will be particular about ensuring the success of your project. So, it is better to be aware of the dos and don'ts of Project Management:

Certain Things To Do In Project Management:

1. Do Follow a Plan:

You might be more focused on instigating the project immediately. But, remember that if you fail to plan things before the project begins, there are chances of project failure. If you spend time initially, you can save a lot of time as the project moves forward. Not only time, but also an unplanned project can make you spend more. In turn, the overall project quality will be affected. 

Let us consider that you get into the shoes of a Project Manager with proper planning in place. When you do this, you can  mitigate the outcome and risk in delivering a high-quality project. Once you have planned and the project starts running as per the plan, you should keep the plan as a living document. In other words, you should keep the document updated. Any changes in the project should show up in your project plan as well.

2. Do Engage the Team in Planning:

In any project, you can get the best inputs for risks, efforts and time required only from those, who are actually going to work on the project. So, when you engage in project planning, do not neglect to tap into the pool of knowledge from team members. When the project planning is done, it will create a good impression in team members' minds. They will feel valued for being part of the project planning. In turn, they will give their best to the success of the project.

3. Do Safeguard your Team from Unnecessary Distractions:

As a Project Manager, you will be focused on coming up with easy-to-use, appealing and quality deliverables to the end-user. You should focus on keeping your team members focused to achieve these things. They should not be distracted by external feedback and requests. There is a chance of distraction when they are exposed to changing objectives and priorities. Discussing things with your team to keep attention and motivation high is better. When you talk to them, you can learn what distracts them and take corrective actions.

4. Do Rely on Smart Tools:

Nowadays, you can find different tools that will help you with Project Management. Some tools will help you monitor the activities of your team members, and some will help you track the project's progress. So, do not forget to use the best tools to keep your project moving smoothly.

5. Do Set Your Team Up For Project Success:

As a Project Manager, you should ensure that different things are done to help your team gain the upper hand. You can instigate this process by analyzing the previously completed project in your organization. From those project details, you can allocate tasks to your team members that rightly fit their skill set. You might be well aware of the old mantra. It is to learn from your own mistakes. Of course, most of us know this rule. But, we tend to forget it often. You cannot conclude a project until you take even the smallest drop of wisdom from it. Take those wisdom drops from the previously completed projects and apply them to your present project. 

For instance, from the past project, you might notice there was a communication gap that delayed the project’s completion. So, in the present project, try to avoid a communication gap. When each member of your team gets tasks that fit his/her skill set, he/she can contribute to the best for the project success, as you know.

Now, you know the five things you can do to ensure your project success as a Project Manager. But you should also be aware of the things you should not do. So, here are five do n’ts to ensure the successful completion of your project.

Don’ts in Project Management:

1. Do Not Set Unrealistic Goals:

Indeed, goal-setting is important in every phase of the project. But, remember that you should not set unrealistic goals. When your goals are not realistic, they can make your team face challenges. As the result, the chances of the failure of the entire project will increase. Rushing and inadequate financial planning can force you to set unrealistic goals. So, do not rush financial resources and make sure not to sacrifice quality for any reason. When you set goals, you must ensure that they are realistic and achievable.

2. Do Not Conduct Empty Meetings Without an Agenda:

According to a study, nearly 63% of all meetings held annually are conducted without a proper agenda. As a Project Manager, you might crave meetings. But meetings should have meaning and an agenda. Otherwise, they can waste your precious time and the precious time of your team members. 

When you conduct meaningless meetings, even there are chances that your team will lose interest in meeting participation. The reason is that they already have task completion deadlines to be met. So, make sure that you plan meetings with agenda. Let your team be aware of the agenda in advance. In turn, they can bring in their inputs as well. As a result, the meetings can turn meaningful and productive in one way or another for the project's success.

3. Do Not Take Your Eye off the Project Scope:

Have you managed projects earlier? If so, you might have encountered instances of overspending resources and missed deadlines. These things happen when the scope of the project is poorly identified. Any type of project can grow and evolve as days pass. In the same way, the key priorities of your project can change then and there. When these things happen, there are chances of a negative impact on the project's overall success. Do not take your eye off the project scope and in this path consider any changes that take place. Also, avoid any extra expenses in your way if possible.

4. Do Not Ignore Underachievers:

Some threats in the way of the project can derail or even destabilize the project. One such threat is underachievers in your project. These team members are also called slackers. At times, in bigger teams, it is hard to identify these people. But, in some smaller teams, they jump straight into the spotlight. Irrespective of the situation, the goal remains the same. Naturally, dealing with underachievers on a project is generally hard. Nevertheless, you cannot overlook them as well. The reason is that if remain unchecked, they can create a culture of anti-accountability. Even, they can force the high-performing members of the team to leave the project. Here are some tips to help you deal with these under-achievers in your project:

• You can converse with underachievers. But, when you talk, keep an open mind. You should be willing to believe that they have real reasons for under-performance. For instance, they can have issues in their personal life. Otherwise, they can have some problems with their colleagues or even health concerns. Try to find a possible solution for them. You can improve their performance when you do it.
• Also, when conversing with them do it one-on-one. Do not talk in front of the other team members. Let the concerned person and you alone know that his/her performance is not on par with the other members of the team.
• When conversing, use particular examples to communicate how his/her performance is affecting the outcome of the entire team.
• Do not use a hostile or accusatory tone when talking. Approach the conversation with authenticity and empathy.

So, if the person tries to improve himself or herself, do help the person in this phase. But, if you find nothing is happening, it is better to leave the person from the team. The reason is that his/her presence can affect the entire project's success.

5. Do Not Share a Design Before Prototype Testing:

As a Project Manager, you know one thing for sure. It is hard to get complex designs right on the first try. This happens even though you take all the attention and care during the design phase of the project. In this process, nothing can be worse than letting a third party develop, test, debug and make changes to the prototype of a new design. The reason is that it can lead to disappointment among your top management. So, make sure not to share a design before prototype testing.  

Conclusion:

Now, you know the top 5 do's and don'ts of Project Management. Following these things will help you ensure success. Simpliaxis offers project management courses that are designed to equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge to handle projects effectively. By adhering to these guidelines, you can avoid common pitfalls and drive your projects to successful completion. Of course, successful Project Management can bring you many benefits in your organization, including improved efficiency, higher team morale, and better resource management. Implement these strategies and watch your projects thrive. Happy Project Management!