Project management is the planning and organization of a project's overall execution from start to finish. As a Project Manager, I am the landing point for both incoming and outgoing projects. I ensure that projects are completed on time, on budget, and correctly. But that is not the only facet of my job.
THE TEAM
In management, the question has always been, "How can you make people want to work for you?". Good project management results in better projects and happier employees.
We start every week by bringing my team together. We discuss upcoming projects, the status of current projects, questions the team may have, our weekends, and our skills. These meetings allow the team to ask questions or voice concerns. Giving my team the tools they need to succeed means they can produce the best end results.
I not only have to understand projects fully, I have to know the strengths and weaknesses of my team. Knowing which designers would be best for the project benefits the client’s timeline and the designers'. Some designers are better suited for technical jobs such as catalogs or packaging projects, and others produce their best work developing brands.
I not only have to understand projects fully, I have to know the strengths and weaknesses of my team.
A Project Manager must know what questions to ask the client so their team has all the information needed before starting a project. However, a good Project Manager knows how to take that information and ensures it is implemented to best benefit their team and the client.
THE PROJECT & THE PROCESS
Understanding all the details is the starting point of any project before it gets assigned to a designer. What is the goal of the project? What are the details and specs of the project? What kind of product is needed? Website, print, apparel, brand, etc? Is a vendor required for the task? This leads to another aspect of project management. As a sourcing manager, I find the best vendors that meet SAWDUST standards. From there, I must know the requirements of a project. Procuring templates and specifications ensures smooth production. While I may not always be the first set of eyes on a project, I am the last, ensuring the project is error-free, completed to our own high standards, and up to the vendor's specifications and client’s expectations.
Communication is another crucial aspect of project management with my team and the client. Communicating timelines, concerns, and updates throughout the project process means the client knows where the project is at every step. Having open correspondence with the client is just as important as communicating with my team. While we try to get all questions answered before a project begins, life happens, and unexpected things arise. "Question Everything" has become my mantra. You know what they say about assuming. Just because I understand something doesn't mean someone else will. I must extract every little detail expected or needed for a project. I may go back and forth with a client numerous times before the team sees the project outline. In turn, I try to explain the details to my team in a way so that everything is spelled out.
Effective communication with the client and receiving timely responses keeps the train rolling and means that projects are completed by their deadlines. In the same breath, being able to convey my team's capabilities and vendors' abilities allows for client expectations to be set and met.
MORE THAN TIMING & BUDGETS
When a project is managed well, it benefits all aspects of the agency, making everyone's lives easier. Designers can focus on the essential elements of a project. Strategists can plan ahead. Directors can make informed decisions to further the company. Collecting the details and communicating them are part of the process of any project. Good project management maintains positive client relations as well as employee satisfaction. Understanding how to get the answers needed to begin a project and then how to get the best work from a team is the foundation of successful project management.
