Name: 5 Signs That You Were Born to Be a Project Manager
Author: ALC Training

A project’s life cycle has a defined start, middle and end with a clear set of objectives. These objectives are managed by coordinated efforts that only work cohesively and effectively when managed by a project manager.

A project manager provides direction and guidance to project managers and project officers. project managers identify, rationalise, monitor and control the inter-dependencies and escalated issues among projects that fall under the project umbrella. A project manager tracks the contribution of each project member to consolidate results.

Considering a career as a project manager? Tasks you should presume to perform include:

Planning the project to ensure maximum efficiency
Allocating resources across projects
Monitoring overall progress, project deliverables and the project budget
Managing risks, resolving issues and initiating corrective action where necessary
Helping with the appointment of individuals to the project team
Clearly communicating the goals and processes of the project

How to know when you’re ready to be a project manager

A project manager is responsible for the successful delivery of the whole of the proposed change or implemented idea. That can be quite a weight on your shoulders, so before you jump into a new position, consider if you’re ready for the role. You will know you’re ready when…

1. You understand how to leverage the strengths of your team

Truly effective managers recognise that all team members have their unique strengths and that in order to function optimally, a project should pull on these individual strengths. When strengths are considered, not only do you see increased productivity, you see higher engagement and retention too.

If you pay attention to the strengths around you, assign team projects based on unique strengths, incorporate strengths into performance reviews and conversations, encourage your team to actively discover their strengths, and tap into the strength of others to improve performance, you’re ready to be a project manager.

2. You can communicate clearly with your team

Effective workplace communication builds rapport and trust and maintains transparency in the workplace. In turn this enables better employee management, boosts morale, and facilitates innovation. A healthy company culture comes from working collaboratively and communicating often, and sharing honest feedback can work wonders for productivity.

If you can identify your team players, develop and enforce procedures clearly, be a platform for information sharing, facilitate and encourage social interaction, offer clear directives instead of suggestions, attach deadlines and maintain confidence as you speak, you’re ready to be a project manager.

3. You know how to manage your time

Effective time management requires planning and commitment. You must be dedicated to ‘sticking to the plan’ and not easily distracted. Good time management exercises conscious control over time spent on specific activities to increase effectiveness, efficiency and productivity.

If you set clear goals, make to-do lists, break goals into small chunks, prioritise, schedule time for breaks and contingencies, don’t procrastinate, manage your emails and phone calls, keep a time log, delegate, have good filing systems in place, and know when to say no, you’re ready to be a project manager.

4. You’re using Scrum to efficiently work to a deadline

Working to a deadline requires practical methodology to ensure a team works rapidly and flexibly to deliver client and business requirements. Agile working practices speed up iterations and give you more opportunity to refine product or service quality. Focusing on incremental changes and improvements facilitates high-quality outcomes, and allows you to test on-the-go and work improvements into your design.

If you’re using an agile framework like Scrum or you can manage everyday challenges effectively, from product quality and customer satisfaction to project ROI, control and risk, you’re ready to be a project manager.

5. You can use empathy to motivate your team

The ability to read and understand other’s emotions and needs – empathy – is one of the core competencies of good leadership. Emotional intelligence allows you to influence, inspire, keep people on track, and help people achieve their dreams and goals. Empathy requires self-awareness, self-management, patience and endurance, but once you’ve got it you to begin to connect in a real and meaningful way.

If you observe, listen, ask questions, be fully present and respectful, and put relationships above results, you are ready to be a project manager.

Training to be a successful project manager

Projects require intensive control due to their complexity and scope. This can only be effected with the support of you – the project manager.

An appropriate work breakdown structure is important for every project, so if you’re not sure this is where your strengths lie, consider undergoing project management training with ALC Training.

ALC has more than 20 years experience in providing the highest quality project management training. We cover the entire AXELOS portfolio including PRINCE2®, MSP®, P3O® & MoP®, as well as APMG International’s AgilePM® course. Also, new to our portfolio stream is the Professional Scrum Master™ course – accredited by Scrum.org.

Give us a call today on 1300 767 592 (AU).

A common misconception among many small business owners is that IT project management training such as PRINCE2 is only beneficial for the projects of large-scale corporations.

PRINCE2 is the world’s most widely-adopted project management method*, used by people and organisations from wide-ranging industries and sectors.

In actual fact, the exact opposite is true, as the PRINCE2 methodology is extremely scalable and can be adapted to the needs of the company. Smaller businesses rely heavily on cash flow, and PRINCE2 provides a useful way to monitor and control expenditure during the development process. This can help to can give them a competitive edge.

There are ‘themes’ of PRINCE2 that can be tailored for small projects, as these are the areas of project management that need to be constantly addressed throughout the process.

PRINCE2 can be easily adapted to benefit smaller companies.

1. The Business Case

The Business Case is the centre of any PRINCE2 project, providing a way to assess how viable it is as an investment. It justifies why the project should be undertaken, how valuable it is, and how it should be approached. This can help to prevent money from being wasted.

2. Organisation

The organisation of PRINCE2 means that the specific roles for each individual involved in the project have to be clearly established. It allows for everyone to be aware of their responsibilities, and ensures that a structure for accountability is in place, making the team more effective.

3. Quality

The methodology requires that specific standards are laid out to measure the quality of the project in terms of its overall purpose. This can help to promote a good outcome with the right product being created in the end.

4. Plans

The plan is an essential aspect of the PRINCE2 methodology, and outlines the process for developing a product. Planning is useful for setting out requirements for timelines and resource management for the project to adhere to.

5. Risk

PRINCE2 helps small businesses to identify the risks they may face when undertaking a project, which makes them more likely to be able to cope with difficulties if they arise. They can then minimise the negative impact of difficulties, because they were aware of them beforehand.

6. Change

Although changes can often occur during the development process, PRINCE2 requires that procedures be followed to ensure alterations are appropriately managed and that the project continues to be viable.

7. Progress

Lastly, the PRINCE2 framework involves the meticulous monitoring of the project during all stages of its development. This can help it to stay on track and promote the meeting of the overall objectives.

Each of these themes can be very useful for small businesses in terms of promoting the efficiency of a project and managing its economic feasibility. It is thus apparent that PRINCE 2 training can be very valuable for companies of all sizes, not just large ones.

Sources:
AXELOS – What is PRINCE2

*Based on annual global PRINCE2 volumes since 1996.