Project management is often a misunderstood and undervalued component of growth for companies and individuals, and times is even seen as a “necessary evil,” something that eats away at the budget, and involves someone nagging people to get things done. While some nagging is without a doubt part of project management, it is only a small portion, and should not overshadow the amount of benefits seen through excellent project management. The truth is that investing in quality project management for any type of initiative, change, or goal that needs to be met, is your surest way to guarantee achieving the results you want, on time and on budget. As you consider hiring for project management services, there a number of things to keep in mind when deciding when and how to effectively utilize project management. Below are 3 examples of mistakes companies frequently make around project management, and suggestions for how you can avoid them.
1. Only thinking of project management as a tool for one goal
In our 30 years of experience providing top of the line project management to clients across many industries, one of the biggest hurdles we come upon is the limited thinking of what project management can provide to a company. Most companies think that project management is used to bring about a single goal. While the focus is usually on a specific outcome, that’s not the whole picture. In our experience, and what the testimonials from our clients prove, project management is a vehicle for implementing change, for shaping attitudes/beliefs, for providing valuable teaching skills to your employees from an expert, for changing structures and processes that were causing problems, and for creating a sustainable cultural environment that paves the way for lasting success. And all of this can be accomplished within the parameters of a project, as long as you have the right project management team.
2. Not giving enough time/value to project management
While project management can do all the things mentioned above and more, this is only true when it’s given the right value. It’s not unusual for companies to question why project management takes a lot of budget, or to wonder, “why do I even need it?” The answer is quite simple: without effective project management, you have no guarantee and no oversight to ensure that all the details, parties involved, and project goals are accurate, thorough, and achievable. Don’t fall into this trap! Instead of looking at project management as taking away money from your bottom line, view it for what it is: the best tool you have available to create successful outcomes. That’s true for the current project, and carries over to all future projects, as company teams learn new skills through working together to achieve project goals. In the end, project management is the glue that holds any initiative together. When you treat it with respect and value, the results will speak for themselves every time.
3. Not listening to what a project manager is saying
Similar to not giving project management the value it deserves, companies and individuals often don’t heed what a project manager is saying, leading to unsatisfactory results. In the process of managing projects, project managers are often able to discover underlying problems that company leaders may not be aware of – but desperately need to know. An experienced project manager will tell company leaders the truth and outline why they must address the issues that arise. When companies decide to ignore good advice, solutions fail because the root cause was never resolved. Trust in the experience and knowledge of a reputable project manager: they are there to help YOU. Act on the wise counsel given and know it comes with your best interests in mind.
While there are more examples of project management mistakes companies make, the three above are important ones to consider. Being aware of these potential mistakes can begin to cause a paradigm shift, bringing greater understanding of the value project management brings for overall company success. It is a necessary part of every initiative and in fact, can often be the precise solution you’ve been looking for, whether you knew it or not.
Interested in learning more about how project management could help your business problem? Contact us today for an exclusive strategy session! If you’re interested in learning more, and discussing other issues, email Kim West, or connect with us on LinkedIn and Facebook.