Be prepared for anything
I tend to look for patterns and commonalities in everything I do. This skill has naturally transitioned into my work supporting and managing projects and helped me, my team, and customers be successful. No matter the objective, I apply four concepts to my work: Stay prepared, stay informed,?stay nimble, and lead by example.
Whether you’re running a complex project, preparing for hurricane season, or curating the perfect family vacation, the application of basic project management skills can keep you prepared for anything and increase your chances of success.
Stay prepared: 10 steps ahead
Being organized is a key factor in staying prepared, and PMs take organization to the extreme. As a PM, staying organized means more than "Marie Kondo-ing" project documents and tasks, but rather embodies the very essence of what it means to be prepared. Having strong organizational skills, in this sense, means having a detailed plan (and a few back-up plans), setting proper expectations with the team and customer, reviewing progress against those expectations, prioritizing, and leveraging lessons learned.?
PMs take organization to the extreme
As a PM, it is my responsibility to stay ten steps ahead and envision all the steps from start to finish. Staying incredibly organized affords me the opportunity to focus on the most important tasks, identify potential risks early, create and collect necessary documentation, and ensure the project runs smoothly.?
Stay informed: Ask the right questions and listen intently
Effective communication is critical for success and is, hands down, the skill I use most as a PM. In fact, the Project Management Institute attributes one third of project failures to poor communication. Effectively communicating isn’t just about what you say, it encompasses everything from the stakeholders you communicate with, the timing and channel of the communication, active listening, and - most importantly - knowing how to ask the right questions and to who to ask.?
Much of my success can be tied directly to having asked the right questions
Much of my success can be attributed to effective communication, more specifically, it can be tied directly to having asked the right questions. Not only does doing so aid in uncovering requirements and potential challenges, asking the right questions is essential to driving innovation, achieving that “aha” moment, motivating a team, and staying informed.
Stay nimble: Keep calm under pressure
Adaptability is one of the most important skills a PM can have. Embracing an agile mindset, regardless of the project framework, has helped me stay flexible and adaptive when plans change; and every experienced PM knows change is inevitable.?
Staying nimble has helped me remain calm under pressure
I’ve found staying nimble has also helped me remain calm under pressure. As a project leader, keeping a level head in a fast-paced and changing environment is vital to maintaining credibility with the customer, solving problems, and maintaining an appropriate climate within the team.
Lead by example: Set the tone
Staying organized, effectively communicating, and being adaptive are key to staying prepared, but the paramount skill to the success of a PM is leadership. The performance of a team hinges on the leader's ability to motivate, inspire, direct, and support them. Leadership is not simply managing the work and making the decisions, but rather ensuring that the project team has the skillset, training, and resources needed to achieve the objectives. The way a leader manages a team sets the tone for the entire effort.?
The most effective project leaders are influencers
The most effective project leaders are influencers who have an inherent ability to understand how their decisions impact the behaviors of those around them. They are big-picture thinkers with a high level of situational awareness, can remove obstacles impeding their team, and are able to use available information to educate and make informed decisions. Impactful leaders embody all the skills and attributes necessary to staying prepared, informed, and nimble.?
The Rigil way
When I joined Rigil as an Administrative Project Manager, I was ecstatic to work with a leadership team that not only encourages an inquisitive mind, but celebrates it. Rigilites are charged with bringing innovative thinking and creative solutions to make our customer’s life better. From serving as strategic partners to our clients, to leading organizational optimization initiatives, we’re challenged to reach beyond the limits of the possible to land upon great ideas to make positive changes for our customers, communities, and the world at-large.?
Rigilites are challenged to reach beyond the limits of what's possible
At Rigil we have a team of experienced professionals ready to help you succeed. Contact us today to see how we can bring your ideas to life and keep you prepared for whatever comes your way.
About the Author
Ashley M. Bell is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) and Six Sigma Green Belt. With over 15 years of experience in program and project management, leadership development, training, and organizational optimization, she is dedicated to leveraging her knowledge, experience, and passion to help her customers find a better way.?
About Rigil
Rigil is an award-winning strategy, technology, and products company committed to making life better for every individual and community they support. Founded in 2005 as a woman-owned business, Rigil had one premise: There is always a better way. A better way to serve customers, deliver solutions, and foster a balanced working community. Learn more at www.rigil.com.