For a project to be accomplished the project managers must be able to know how they must tackle or handle problems they encounter during the process. This is article is going to state a problem and a solution for each problem that most project managers encounters.
Unclear goals-The first major challenge that project managers and team members might face is not knowing what exactly to expect from the project. If the goals and objectives are not clearly defined, the project is doomed to fail. When no one is aware of what’s where, when and how it will become a difficult to achieve the goals. Starting a project without clear objectives and a specific direction and a prepared plan it’s a total failure of the project from the beginning. Solution-This is why, it’s recommended to hold a meeting at the beginning of the project to discuss and plan clear goals so that you will be able to know.
Poor communication-Some project managers make the mistake of not spending enough time communicating with their team members. They feel it is a waste of time. They would rather do some concrete work than indulge in discussing their ideas and tending to forget that a project is collaborative effort. Team work is important for greater decisions to be implemented. It is simply not possible to do all the tasks on your own. There is a reason why the project manager has a team so that they can help each other in the decision making and bringing ideas together. Communication is important because it controls everything on the project since everything that is to be done will be done because of communication. Solution-In order to avoid this common project management mistake, hold regular meetings to take updates and feedback from team members. Make sure you communicate to them any important changes to the project or any decisions that could impact the direction of the project
Failing to manage risks-Being reactive and not planning ahead can make you fall short on deadlines and resource targets. It’s a mistake many project managers encounter. When the project fails, it is easy to complain that something unexpected came up and it was not in your hands to control it. But, a true leader is a visionary who can anticipate problems and plan for them accordingly. That’s what separates an excellent project manager and a mediocre one. Therefore, if you want to stand out from the rest of the crowd in your organization, make sure you brush up your risk management skills. Solution Identify the potential risks and analyse the effects those risks could have on the project. Develop a mitigation plan in case the risk becomes a reality and assign a team member to handle the risk. Monitor the status of risks on a frequent basis and be able to communicate with the stakeholders about the potential threats.
Unrealistic Deadlines- this is one of the most reasons why projects fail or what makes project managers and the members of the project struggle is because of unrealistic expectations from clients and stakeholders. Most projects timelines do eventually slip due to the unrealistic initial deadline. It is normal to have delays in achieving different milestones in a project; however, you can prevent the project from going off track. Solution monitoring the project from the very beginning. It is also important to keep the customers in sync in case sudden customer requests for changes are posing threats to the timely completion of a project. Timing activities and using Gantt charts can contribute a great deal to helping the team stay on schedule.
Every project will have something to teach us. It is very unlikely that you will be able to avoid mistakes completely while managing a project. Each project is different and comes with its own external variables which you cannot control. But, there are some common mistakes that majority of project managers make. By learning about the common issues with project management, you can at least avoid some of the mistakes that others make. In order to grow in your project manager, you don’t have to reinvent the wheel. If you learn from others’ mistakes, it’s a sure way to achieve success in your career.