One of the most crucial factors after the PMP Exam prep and attainment of the credential – is the development and maintenance of consumer and stakeholder standards. By establishing a timeline and determining the complexity of a project, the timeline and the expenditure will easily expand if the goals are unrealistic. What can project managers do to ensure that everyone is on the same page and programs meet deadlines and expectations carefully? For starters, every project manager can practice the below-mentioned strategies.
1. Meet with your client
The client is the most important element for every project, so keep them close and address their needs, questions, and expectations with them every week. Keep them up-to-date with the project’s status, success and risks, issues or decisions you need their advice on. The best way to communicate is face to face, followed up by telephone. Don’t depend on email and written notes published on your own.
2. Assess project progress
Spend some time each week with the manager to see how well you have done and refresh the project plan. If something is not on track, talk about the root causes and take action. Allow people to take responsibility for their activities and to make predictions.
3. Review risks and issues
Each week, the project vulnerability and issue lists must be checked and revised at a fixed time. Don’t just look at it, yourself – the whole team must be involved. Ask them what they’re worried about and what holds them down. Ask people outside the immediate team as well. You will see the project from a different perspective and may recognize additional risks you have not taken into account.
4. Update metrics
The key performance measures and earned value metrics of the project must be updated. Evaluate how much time and money are taken out of the project relative to how much has been consumed. Also, update the finances of the projects by a) actual budgetary expenditure and b) estimates of completion expenditure compared to the rest of the budget.
5. Distribute written status reports
Report the development and milestones of the project on a one-page status report and discuss it with all key stakeholders. The status report should include a brief overview of accomplishments and failures, major events, top 5 challenges and problems, expenditure detail and RAG ranking.
6. Take a big picture of the project
Block out time every week and see the project from a big picture. Get away from your desk to a new and unfamiliar place where you can think. Look at those things that don’t work best and determine what you’re going to do. Assess how you can improve the performance of your team and better respond to the needs of your customers in minimum efforts.
7. Conduct weekly one-2-one meetings
Have a one-2-one meeting each week, even if only for 20 minutes, with the main team members. Make an effort not only to explore the specific tasks but also how you are doing, what your thoughts are and what you love. Try to understand how each individual can help empower and encourage them to be more accountable.
8. Chair a working-group meeting
Every project needs a rhythm and a key meeting to discuss progress and make important decisions, such as a regular working party meeting with the major partners and team members. Lecture a reflection on outcomes, threats, and actions relevant to the nature and implementation of the drug. Seek the solutions you should approach at these meetings as much as possible.
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