"Dear Angela, what are some common project manager mistakes?"
Skipping Ahead
Skipping ahead to start a project without good project initiation and requirements gathering is the biggest and possibly the most common mistake PMs can make! Whether press from key stakeholders or general lack of knowledge is responsible, don't skimp or cut short your planning time!
Getting the Right People
Getting the right people with the right skills assigned to the work. Of course, I will acknowledge that many PMs don't get much choice when it comes to resource management. In today's environment of trying to run lean, you usually get whoever you are assigned and try to make the best of it. However, if you feel like there is a serious risk created by the assignment, speak up. The resources is probably just as uncomfortable being asked to do the work as you are with having them assigned.
Estimating Time and Budgets
If you are responsible for estimating time and/or budgets for projects, you'll have made mistakes. Using human beings as tools to accomplish a goal has all sorts of inherent issues. People get sick, people make mistakes, people think up great new ways to do things faster. Accept that things will change and prepare ahead of time for that will be communicated.
Communication
Each group of people you work with will likely communicate in a slightly different manner. Learn to be flexible with the tools use to communicate while being a big stickler for communication.
Questions or comments? Feel free to share them below!
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Angela PM is the executive leader of Project Insight’s virtual project management team known as VirtualPM™. She is a natural born leader and of course, Project Management is her passion. Angela is a Project Management Consultant with over 15 years of experience managing complex website projects. She has worked her tail off to become the best professional in her industry. Many in her field respect, admire and even fear the amount of dedication and detail she puts into her work. Her expertise, coupled with her positive and straight-forward attitude make her the perfect person to get industry insight from.