Painless Project Management: A Step-by-Step Guide for Planning, Executing, and Managing Projects

Chapter 8. The Management Part of Project Management

Simply stated, it is the project manager’s responsibility to make sure that the project is delivered—period.

So far, we have focused pretty pointedly on the technical aspects of project management. One of the primary keys to the success of a project, however, is not technical. It is, rather, the way that all of the individuals associated with the project work together toward the common goal of getting the project completed. Not only as a project manager must you juggle all of the ongoing work, but in addition to that you have to manage all of the people-related issues that are involved when you get any group of individuals together. That can prove to be very challenging.

You have been put in charge of a project. Now what? You have proven that you are very good at what you do—that’s why you have been chosen to lead the project. But chances are that the skills required for your technical work are only a partial list of those skills required to be an effective project manager.

Tip

Look at every project management assignment as a professional development opportunity. Identify skills that you want to develop during the course of leading your project to success.

You have the dual challenge of not only leading a successful project (which benefits the organization), but also the opportunity to develop your own professional skill set (which benefits you and your career). Yes, we all know the textbook definition of management as planning, organizing, ...