Project managers have immense responsibility regardless of the extent or size of their organization. Apart from overseeing the completion of tasks, managers need to keep an eye on the schedule and stay within budget. But the job has evolved significantly in recent years. Hence, someone trained in traditional methods and strategies will find the current working environment challenging.
Since the field is dynamic and dependent on many factors that can impact success, every organization is also responsible for re-evaluating project management practices. In this article, we aim to provide project managers with a list of recommendations that will help improve team performance while also meeting overall organizational goals.
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Improve Performance and Productivity With Technology
One of the first things a project manager needs to avoid is overlooking the importance of technology. In a study conducted by PWC, it was found that in 77% of the participants, using a project management software has a high correlation to the success of a project.
Use software for managing projects that incorporates many of the essential features that a manager needs to accomplish tasks. For example, instead of using emails to send and receive files from team members, users can upload or download files using the software. The tool also replaces standard office applications and allows each user to access a unified dashboard.
Of course, before adopting new technology, it’s critical to consider the needs of the team and the project goals since there’s a lot of different types of project management software available with various features, capabilities, and costs.
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Focus on Timely and Consistent Communication
Regardless of the sector or industry, project managers deal with people all the time. And a breakdown in communication is highly detrimental to the team’s performance. Timely communication, especially when it comes to coaching, helps in identifying areas for improvement. Not only that, project managers should take every opportunity to acknowledge good performance. If the team works remotely, communication may be done through video calls, phone, and chat. As long as the communication lines are open, there’s an avenue to raise issues and provide apt solutions.
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Set Roles and Responsibilities Clearly
Project managers need not handle all the administrative tasks alone. If there are plenty of people involved, delegation may be necessary, but there should be clear roles and specific guidelines on specific responsibilities. Not doing so will lead to wrongful assumptions – or worse, lack of accountability. Every person assigned to do a specific task should know where his job begins and where it ends. This way, there’s a hierarchy of responsibility and a clear means of tracking liability in case of a mistake.
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Motivate the Team Through Rewards
When employees are motivated, they are likely to stay focused on improving their performance or completing specific tasks. Although rewards may not bring long-term results, it’s an excellent way to boost morale from time to time. Timing is also critical because offering rewards to frequently may lose its effect and become nothing more than an ordinary routine for employees.
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Focus on the Desired Results First and Work Backward When Setting Goals
For some managers, one effective strategy to boost productivity and success is thinking about the final outcome and visualizing the steps leading up to that point. By abandoning a traditional approach, it’s easy to think out of the box and imagine the best practices that helped achieve the desired result. It may sound unconventional, but the advantage of this method is having a plan that’s already grounded on what you want to achieve, not the other way around.
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Be in Tune With Your Team’s Weaknesses and Strengths
Lastly, every project manager should know each member of the team, especially their weaknesses and strengths. You can delegate responsibilities and assign roles better when you take advantage of what each member of the team excels at. Since each employee comprises the core of your team, understanding each of them is key to successful project management.
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