7 – Mistakes made by Project Managers | Project Management

In project management, being organized and structured is the key to success. It is essential that the project manager and his / her team are organized and follow the necessary steps to effectively carry out a project like

• Define the objectives
• Establish the schedule
• Determine the budget, resources and time required
• Assign roles and responsibilities
• Use the right tools

A lack of organization can lead to the failure of the project. Some project managers manage their projects with instinct, evolving in groping hoping that everything goes smoothly. This attitude lacks professionalism because project management leaves very little room for improvisation.

Mistakes of Project Manager | in Project Management

Find out what are the characteristics of an ineffective project manager in order to correct these behaviors that are detrimental to the success of a project.

1. It Manages its Projects without any Planning

In project management, not even planning a project is a serious mistake that inevitably leads to its failure. It is essential to have a precise vision of the project, to know where you are going to succeed.

Having defined the objectives of the project, it is essential to determine a deadline as well as the financial and human resources necessary for its completion. Then you have to set a timetable and assign roles and responsibilities to the different members of your team. These are the basic rules of project management.

2. It does not use any Checklist

How do you know what has been achieved and what remains to be done without checklists? In project management, as in any other field, checklists or checklists are an indispensable tool for accurately monitoring the progress of a project.

A project manager who does not use checklists runs the risk of forgetting essential tasks. It may also be time-consuming to redo a task that has already been completed or to try to find out whether the task has already been completed or not.

You can create checklists for everything and customize them as you like. The key is to use it well and update them daily.

3. It communicates poorly or not at all

Communication is an essential skill for a project manager, including face-to-face communication. Hiding behind the computer to send instructions via email is one thing; it is another thing to go directly to collaborators, individually or in groups.

A project manager must discuss with his / her team the progress of the project, the problems encountered and every little success. He must communicate with the client to know his needs and expectations, and any changes required. Finally, it must communicate with the various stakeholders to ensure that the project meets their requirements. Being attentive and transparent is also the basis for good communication.

4. No follow-up

Is it a Sign that a project manager is ineffective and disorganized? He is committed to managing a problem situation or seems concerned with a problem, but the weeks go by and nothing happens. He simply forgot because he did not make a checklist or he voluntarily left the problem. As a result, it loses its credibility and the project goes right to failure.

If you have a problem with your employees, you must ensure that it is handled. Especially since today, there are a multitude of tools, such as Planzone, that allow you to follow the evolution of your project with ease. No more excuses!

5. It hides

To avoid being confronted with the problems of project management, this project manager hides: in his office, in a meeting, at the coffee machine, etc. If you do everything possible to avoid managing the project for which you are responsible, perhaps this job is simply not for you.

In order to ensure that the project progresses correctly, you must be present and involved in the field with your employees. Work with your team, communicate with stakeholders, and show that you are dealing with problems. In short, do the work for which you have been hired or change jobs.

6. He never takes notes

How do you know what is said in a meeting if you do not take notes? Even if one of your colleagues is in charge of sending a meeting report to the entire team, it is essential that you take note of the most important elements.

In addition, taking notes is a more effective way of remembering topics. It also helps you to plan and focus on the tasks to be performed.

7. It disperses

Always in a meeting or working on several tasks at the same time, this project leader always seems very busy. In reality, he does not move forward, too busy to juggle between the different tasks he has assigned himself.

Contrary to what one might think, multitasking impairs productivity. It is therefore preferable to focus on one task at a time. If your workload becomes insurmountable, do not hesitate to delegate, your team is also there to support you.

In Summary

Some people are not meant to be project manager. However, they end up in this role without having the necessary skills or shoulders to bear such responsibilities. This creates inefficient project managers who do their best to avoid managing the project thus causing its failure.

An efficient project manager manages his project with a masterly hand. He is able to make the right decisions, even under pressure, to accomplish the tasks he is responsible for on time, to support his team and to communicate regularly with the stakeholders.