Although there are always going to be project management failures, the software can help avoid this. Unfortunately, it usually takes quite a bit of time to wind up one project.
Of course, not all projects have the same issues and dilemmas, but the results of said issues are often the same.
There is no doubt that even the best project managers can make some unexpected mistakes.
Here are six common mistakes project managers need to avoid:
1. Not Paying Attention to Prioritized Projects
It is true that some managers may need to take on many projects at once. As a result, some fall into the trap of not giving priority to the most important projects on the list.
It is crucial for a project manager to understand that every project has due importance. They also should make it a priority to inform the team members when the significance of a particular project has changed.
Cortney Thompson, CIO of data services provider Green House Data, says, “Clearly communicating project priorities can help save a lot of hassle and headache”.
2. Assessing Risks Incorrectly
Often, professionals underestimate risks. They sometimes don’t even acknowledge them in the first place.
The most adverse effect of this is that it can cause a derailment of the entire project, which can dramatically increase its costs.
You should make sure that you are assessing the risks and probability of any upcoming problem very carefully and smartly every step of the way. Your plan of action must be curated in such a way that the risks can be mitigated, if not eliminated.
3. Inadequate Planning
One of the biggest mistakes that a project manager can make is not having a proper plan. In fact, the right project plan is the roadmap for any team to follow.
Sometimes, managers don’t have a crisp and clear objective, thus having to deal with unclear project scope and an erroneous project schedule.
At the beginning of any project, the executives need to plan the aforementioned scope and schedule. They must ensure that there is a clear number of steps to be taken.
All in all, professionals working on a specific project need to be clear that every nook and corner is properly framed.
4. Not Using Project Management Tools
You might have heard about project management tools like Trello or Asana. They can certainly offer an appealing visual representation of any project’s current status.
However, there are many project managers out there who are reluctant to use these tools. In the end, the project suffers.
Companies need to emphasize the importance of these tools, and managers need to use them more often.
Certified project manager Cerila Gilliard says, “Project documentation should be updated weekly. If something of importance comes up [e.g., a change in task or scope or deadline], the PM should update the documentation within 24 hours. This will give everyone the accurate project information [about] the project.”
5. Being Unaware That Project Management is Also People Management
Unfortunately, there are too many project managers who often get bogged down while being focused on the objective and quality of their projects.
In the rat race to make their project the best, they forget about those people who actually work tirelessly to accomplish the project’s objective.
As they fail to properly manage their team, this delays, and impacts the quality of the project.
This problem can be avoided by making sure that everyone who is working on a particular project must understand how their role is important for the successful accomplishment of the project.
Whether it is a sponsor, team members, or executives, everyone should understand their importance.
6. Haphazard Methods and Processes
The marketing department is onto mind maps, and IT is all about agile, HR is taking Excel into consideration, and so on.
People might think that this is because of different priorities and that there is no issue in communication through different channels. However, this sort of situation, if left unchecked, can give rise to chaos.
The only solution to avoid this mistake is to establish a crystal clear line of communication between departments. The project processes must be streamlined.
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How Do You Avoid Project Management Failures?
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