Being a project manager means being a great leader. But many people are at a loss when it comes to what it takes to become a more effective project manager. If you find yourself in this position and you are ready to take your career in business to new heights, check out the tips below.
Get Your Degree
Going back to school is possible at any age, and it is a great way to vastly improve upon your skills and prepare yourself for a new career or a smaller transition within your existing career. When it comes to project management, you could learn what it takes to lead a team by enrolling in a masters in project and program management program. And with schools offering up valuable online MSMPP degree programs, you do not even need to worry about sitting in a classroom to get your education. Plus, once you have this valuable degree, you will be able to prove to your current boss, or a new prospective boss, that you have what it takes to get the job done.
Don’t Micromanage
As a team leader, it might be tempting to micromanage everyone who is performing various tasks for you. But the goal is to macromanage, not to micromanage. This means giving your team confidence in their abilities to get things done, and stepping back and having the confidence in them to get everything done for you as well. You will gain a lot more respect from your team, and you will be able to let them work autonomously when they want to and ask questions when they need to. Plus, you will really be able to see where individuals shine and where they falter so that you could then use that information for future projects. So go ahead and let your team members make their own decisions within their specific areas of responsibility.
Always Have Backup Plans
Despite your best planning efforts, sometimes things do not go according to those plans. So, when something falls through or you need to change your course of action, don’t fret and don’t let your team members worry either. Instead, be prepared for changes (after all, they should be expected) by simply have backup plans in place. Whether you are working directly with a client who needs you to do something differently in order for them to be satisfied, or you have a boss who has changed his or her course, backup plans will help you keep your cool and allow you to pick up right where you left off.
Schedule Regular Meetings
Finally, don’t neglect the benefit of a good meeting. While you don’t want to schedule so many meetings that they become useless and annoying, you do want to get regular status updates from your team members to see how they’re doing. Find out if they need any support, find out if they have hit any roadblocks, and use your meetings together to discuss next steps, budget, and more.
There you have it: use the tips above to become a better project manager and love your job even more!