5 simple things to do for effective project management

“Project management is like juggling three balls: time, cost and quality. Program management is like a troupe of circus performers standing in a circle, each juggling three balls and swapping balls from time to time.” G. Reiss

Project management is a special skill. Let’s not even lie.

But the good thing is, it is not so hard to pull off when you know the ropes. And that’s what we are here to do today. Show you the ropes.

Here are a few tips to make your project management more effective.

Get the right people on board: “Get the right people. Then no matter what all else you might do wrong after that, the people will save you. That’s what management is all about.” — Tom DeMarco

Tom DeMarco was not wrong when he made the above statement.

Pool together a team of individuals with diverse skills, talents and experience on your team, if your project will emerge successful.

The right people are the lifeblood of every project. And like L.R. Sayles said, “Project managers function as bandleaders who pull together their players, each a specialist with individual score and internal rhythm. Under the leader’s direction, they all respond to the same beat.”

Communicate effectively: No matter how great your team is, without the right communication, it’s as good as ensuring that everyone on board is in tune with the vision, the goals and the deliverables for the project. If any step of the project is not effectively communicated, the project will have more hiccups than it should (yeah, hiccups are normal).

Identify obstacles early on: The best way to conquer an obstacle is to be aware of it. So, it’s important to note down every possible issue that can come up here and there and make plans to mitigate against the damage early on. There’s no room for “when we get to that bridge, we will cross it”.

Collaborate when necessary: Whoever thinks he can do it all is destined to fail. As a project manager, ensure you find ways to collaborate effectively with other teams or companies when working on a project. This will ensure that you are not lacking in necessary skills and expertise.

“Collaboration is the best way to work. It’s the only way to work, really. Everyone’s there because they have a set of skills to offer across the board.” — Antony Starr

Use automation systems: Automation systems are there to make life better, to help you focus on the actual work and leave some other things that can serve as distractions aside. For whatever aspect of your work that an automation system exists for, you should adopt it and use it effectively to ensure that your project is delivered in a more seamless way. You have so much to worry about and do without adding the tasks that these systems can handle for you.