Behind every successful project, there are not only great things but also daily operational processes, without which nothing would have happened. The Project Manager is responsible for them in the team-the leader and soul of the project, who takes over the routine and control of tasks.
In the article, we described what techniques and tools used in the YuSPM Group to launch a working product on time without a collective nervous breakdown.
Openness and transparency
For the team, an open information space is important, which is, the ability to get reliable information about the status of the project at any time. To do this, each participant is included in working chats and is present at daily rallies. On video meetings, we discuss what was done last day, and what we have plans for today. We analyze what problems we have encountered and find new solutions.
Trustworthy relationship
Perhaps not the most obvious, but a significant responsibility of a Project Manager is to create a trusting atmosphere within the team. The project manager should be an assistant to the team members, not their boss. The Project Manager is responsible for deadlines, content and budget, and he needs to know what is happening with a particular task. Only an open and trusting relationship with each employee will help them fully understand what is happening with the project.
Competent management of communications
In our work, meetings are held constantly-we discuss business with the customer and resolve issues within the team. As with any oral communication, participants may forget, miss, or misunderstand something. To avoid this, the project Manager records the results of the meeting in writing (the so-called FollowUP) and sends it to the participants. This tool structures information and removes ambiguity. In the future, the project Manager monitors the implementation of the established agreements.
Also, any communication involves the Protocol of the meeting. Before the meeting is scheduled, the Manager designates an agenda-a plan and a list of tasks to discuss. During the meeting, the Manager monitors the timing and ensures that participants do not deviate from the topic of the meeting.
Planning and the five-P rule
Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance.
The more detailed the plan is developed, the fewer problems will arise during implementation. If the project does not have clear boundaries, then a roadmap is formed approximately for a long time. Large tasks are divided into two-week sprints: for each such stage of work, a set of features is compiled that will be completed during this time.
Monitoring and control of employee actions
The Project Manager has to control not only himself but also all project participants — the team and the customer.
Every day before the meeting with the team, the manager keeps track of which tasks were completed and which were missed. Understands the reasons and decides how to fix it. You also need to control the information from the customer — remind them of the agreements and ask for the necessary information.
Emotional attitude and relationships within the team
The project will not be successful if the relationship in the team is bad. The Manager is the leader and lighter of the project. Among other duties, he should be able to listen to and support each team member. Keeping a team spirit and positive attitude is an important part of the Project Manager's job.
As our experience has shown, these six basic tips which support effective project management.