How to become a Project Manager?

Every project needs a leader– someone to guide and keep track f a project’s progress. This person is at the forefront of every project and is called the Project Manager. The project manager or PM, for short is the person responsible for many things to do with a project which you will learn about in this article.

 

 

What is project management?

 

To understand what the role of project manager work, it is essential to understand what project management itself involves. Project management involves the use of various principles, procedures and policies that are established to guide a project from its conception stage all the way along until its completion.

Planning and organisation are major parts of project management as well as the implementation of created plans. A project itself, is described as a specific start undertaken with parameters designed to be followed in order to produce a defined outcome. A project holds its own against ongoing processes since it has a specific start and end date whereas processes can be ongoing for an unidentified period of time.

The plan is used to guide all aspects of a project along a path from start to finish. The ideal goal of effective project management and the role of project manager work is to reach the expected outcome of a project on time and within budget. Through anticipating certain challenges and bottlenecks of a project and coordinating an efficient and effective team, Sinnaps, the online project management app, can greatly increase the probability of a project reaching its goals in the most ideal way.

 

What is a Project Manager?

 

Now that you have a grasp on project management we can begin to describe what a project manager actually is. Who is a project manager? A project manager is a person who is organised, goal-oriented and passionate about the project they are heading. They have a strong understanding of what projects have in common and have strategies in place to succeed and deal with change.

Essentially, project managers are change agents. The ability to deal with change effectively is what makes a good project manager. The goals of the project are internalised by the PMs and they inspire the project team to also work towards the completion of these goals. Project managers are people who fair well with new challenges and drive business results.

Many times, PMs have to work under pressure and in complex environments. The ability to shift readily within these environments and the ability to see the project from a large perspective as well as paying attention to small, but crucial, details are very important.

They coordinate teams made up of people with the skills needed to successfully complete the project. With these teams, project managers need to develop trust and good communication channels as well as with other stakeholders of the project.

PMs need a toolset of techniques and skills to be able to carry out their jobs effectively. They need to be able to resolve complex, interdependent activities into tasks and sub-tasks that are then monitored and controlled. Each project holds its own specific requirements and this must be taken into consideration by project managers. The continuous improvement of their own and their team’s skills is another factor that PMs overlook. This can be done upon completion of each project and supported by Sinnaps, the project management app, that saves each project process for future consideration and to learn from previous mistakes.

Every organisation needs a project manager, whether they are directly given that title or work as project managers indirectly. They can be outsourced as well as in-house. With experience, they may become program managers, which we will discuss later on, or portfolio managers. Worldwide, the demand for PMs is increasing as companies are making a move towards directing their energy into projects rather than routine operations.

The role of project manager work is recognised as a strategic competence. PMs are indispensable to business success and those that are skilled, experienced and good at their job are valuable resources to any company.

 

Project Manager Skills

 

Technical training alone in project management doesn’t’ prepare PMs for certain nuanced circumstances that can arise. As is the case with every job, a certain skillset is required. Project Managers work is fast-paced, changing environments with teams made up of complex individuals. Leadership is required to get the job done and more importantly, a skilled leader.

 

Free online Project Management course 

Learn to coordinate teams, manage projects, optimise resources and anticipate risks in 15 days.

 

 

The following is a list of kills that project managers should have or develop so that they can effectively perform their job.

 

1. Communication

90% of a PMs time is spent communicating. As we’ve said before, communication is one of the most important factors of successful project management. Communicating effectively allows project managers to convey clearly ideas, visions and goals.

Presentation skills are important in everything from a kick-off meeting to simply speaking to a team member on a one-on-one basis. There are many online courses and books available to help you improve this skillset if you feel you are lacking. Confidence and composure go a long way when it comes to communication as well as listening. Remember, it is a two-sided conversation! If you’re wondering how to be a good project manager, communication is key!

2. Leadership

Leadership is a skill we are constantly hearing about in almost every field of work. In project management, however, it is essential to be able to lead. If you can lead, you can deliver. PMs oversee teams that seek leadership so as to not be a pile of confused people lost in trying to reach a project’s goals without guidance. Leadership courses are readily available in almost any format you like! They are something well worth investing in if you are hoping to become a project manager.

3. Team management

Managing a team is important in two ways. One is to manage a team and its work strategically in order to successfully complete a project. The second is about managing a team from a more basic point of view. This has to do with coordinating specific individuals and including team members with skills that can support others.

Clearly identifying team member roles is important so that motivation and inspiration to get the job done right are prevailing factors. A project leader vs project manager differs in the fact that a project leader could be one of the team members that is capable of leading when the manager is not around. These roles can be helpful.

4. Negotiation

Negotiation is closely linked with communication. Apart from simply communicating an idea to someone, project managers will be dealing with other people’s input and sometimes, disagreement. Negotiating in a fair way will stand to PMs in the future. Negotiation can arise around many different areas when managing a project such as budgets, resources, times and various other issues. A PM should know how to negotiate so that both parties are satisfied. A good negotiator is what makes a good project manager.

 

Free online Project Management course 

 

The more optimistic we are, the more things we feel we can do. And even as happiness floods forth, it is important to know how to make the planning realistic.

A clue: use Buffer activities…

 

 

5. Personal organization

Organisation is project management is essential. You, as PM, will not be able or capable of organising other people if you cannot organise yourself personally. An unorganised room is an unorganised mind, as they say and this cannot be something that affects the management of your complex projects.

6. Risk management

Risks and bottlenecks are common occurrences in projects. It is essential to understand how to manage these risks in order to avoid project failure. Thanks to project management apps such as Sinnaps, risk management is aided through the detection of bottlenecks and the ability to try various project processes before deciding on one.

 

Project Manager Job Description

 

Project Manager job description or a project manager role description describes how PMs are the people in charge of projects within a company. Job descriptions point out what is the role of a project manager. Other aspects of a project manager’s job include planning, budgeting, overseeing and documenting all aspects of the project you are undertaking. Often PMs work closely with upper management and other departments for support. Sometimes projects are carried out solely by the PM, but more often than not they are completed with the help of a team.

A project manager can work in a variety of fields. Each field will differ in terms of job description. For example, a project manager in the IT sector will have different job to a project manager in the Food sector. Project managers’ jobs also vary in terms of each project they undertake, such as a small-scale project vs a large-scale project.

 

Project Manager Duties and Responsibilities

 

Project managers are specifically responsible for several different aspects when managing a project. Companies understand the value of project managers and the responsibilities they undertake and hire professionals that are specifically trained in this area. Project manager roles and responsibilities are defined by reaching the end goal of the project within budget and on time.

Managing a project can be complex feat and involves several steps. These steps define the responsibilities of project managers and answer the question of what does a project manager do?

 

 

• Defining a projects goals and objectives.

• Identifying the steps needed to achieve these goals.

• Identifying the resources required.

• Defining the budget and time required for each step.

• Defining the time required to compete the whole project.

• Overseeing implementation and execution of project work.

• Delivering the finished outcome.

 

 

To make a project plan durable and reliable, PMs implement controls to continuously assess performance progress. PMs can use online project management tools such as Sinnaps to help them with this task through automatically generated reports and statistics on a project’s progress.

Strong communication and negotiation skills are required when working with a team as well as with other project stakeholders. It is the responsibility of the PM to set out clearly the channels of communications that are to be followed throughout the working of a project.

 

How much do Project Managers Make?

 

When asking the question of how much do project managers make, the answer really depends on the field you are in and the scope of the various projects you undertake. In terms of the USA, the Bureau of Labour Statistics states that construction managers, for example, make a median annual salary of $83,860 while IT project managers make $115,780 and HR project managers make a median of $99,180 yearly. So, when you are searching for ‘project manager jobs near me’, keep in mind what sector you want to go into.

 

Program Manager vs Project Manager

 

When looking at program vs project manager, there are a few points to take into consideration. A program and project managers are closely related. They both oversee the running and all aspects of projects. However, there are some key differences.

A program manager is something like the visionary leader for a company’s program. The program manager’s role is more than the completion of individual projects and there is a greater emphasis on the long-term benefits of the whole program. They are involved in the articulation of the goals and objectives of various projects and how they will together impact the business.

They map and define a list of dependent projects that all need to be completed in order to reach the overall goal of the business. Strategy and implementation play key roles as well as appropriate project delegation.

How to become a Project Manager with the help of Sinnaps?

 

Sinnaps is a cloud project management tool that offers project managers and all those involved in the workings of a project a modern and user-friendly platform with which to manage any project, big or small. Project managers can use Sinnaps to keep up-to-date with a project’s progress through the weekly status updates, be constantly updated with any modifications on the project wall and try out various project work paths through Testing Mode before choosing one.

Sinnaps is an online tool that greatly facilitates the complex work of project managers and aids in the organisation and effectiveness of any project.

 

 

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Overall, a project manager is key to a project’s successful completion. There’s no one rulebook that sets out how to be a project manager. To be a project manager requires a specific set of skills and understanding of your team. Communication, as always is an imperative factor in helping a project on its road to triumph.

 

Resources Graph helps you to plan your project

 

 

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Remember that experience and learning is key and practise makes perfect, so invest your time and energy into developing your skillset to be a competent and effective project manager. Also remember that project management online apps such as Sinnaps will make your job a lot easier! 😉

 

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