I was at a meeting of the Technology Association of Georgia (awesome organization, by the way) the other night and I met a woman who was about to start her first project management job in a fast-paced organization. She had plenty of business experience, but didnt have any project management background. Our conversation got me thinkingjust what would I say to someone about to embark on their first project management voyage?
Run away! Quick, before its too late! (Okay, just kidding
)
Relationships are everything. Projects are completed by teams, which are made up of wonderful, complex, annoying, inspiring people. Since youll be managing their activities from a position of almost no official authority, youll have to rely on your ability to build loyalty and trust.
Communication is 90% of the job. Providing the right information to the right people at the right time is critical. You must be communicating nearly all the time, or at least thinking about it. Remember that formal and informal communications are both important. And remember its a two-way streetyou need to listen and pay attention when youre the receiver of communication.
You have to be sure problems get solved, but you dont necessarily have to solve them. If you want something done right, youve got to do it yourself, correct? No! That way lie the demons of confusion and burnout. If somethings not getting done, address it through relationships, escalations, or whatever, but dont actually do it.
Be unafraid to look ignorant. They say that if you have a question youre afraid is dumb, you should ask it, because theres always somebody in the room with the same question who is afraid to speak up. Well, theyre wrong. Usually, its just you. But ask your question anyway. Why? Because you need to know! You cant manage something if you dont have the facts. There might be a couple of experts wholl snicker, but your worth as a person and a PM isnt affected by their opinions. And the rest of the group will have forgotten all about it by quitting time.
Keep track of tasksbe a nagger. You can keep track of most items in your regular meetings, but there are always areas that are having trouble or specific action items outside the usual task list that you must follow up on. Just ask, in a friendly way, how its going, if there are any problems you can help with and if the task will be completed on time. If theres no response, or an unsatisfactory response, ask again, perhaps a bit more pointedly. Ask a third time if you have to, and if you think you have the luxury to. No satisfaction after three tries? Escalate to the persons boss.
Next time, Ill continue this list. But go ahead, read the next post anyway, okay?