First Steps: Avoid the Common Errors

  PM Network  

Less-experienced project managers sometimes struggle with how to be an effective leader. Here’s a starter list to get you up to speed quickly and avoid some common pitfalls. Seasoned project managers may also want to review the list as a refresher. After all, none of us ever stop learning.

Walk around. You’ll discover and resolve more problems by getting out and engaging with team members and other stakeholders rather than operating primarily from behind a desk.

Resolve conflicts. Confront any problems professionally and in a timely manner so they don’t fester and harm the project.

Trust, but verify. Strive to build trust among project stakeholders, but insist on metrics, checks and balances and other tools to ensure outcomes are being met.

Question the status quo. Challenge practices, processes and methodologies. And when it’s needed, change them to yield better business outcomes.

Get out of the way. As the project’s overall leader, you shouldn’t be tied down in its critical path. Instead, you must be accessible to help those members in need.

Don’t make it personal. It’s just business; behave in the best interests of the business.

Don’t run the project by consensus. Collaboration is important, but it’s your job to make sure the best approach is always chosen.

Celebrate successes. …

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