Project management: seven key secrets for a successful delivery every time

What makes a successful project manager?

How do you survive all the challenges and obstacles?

The most successful project managers follow the seven key secrets to successful delivery every time.

1) Learn to be flexible – A key quality to have is the ability to be flexible in any given situation. Sometimes, to keep the project going, a Project Manager will have to think creatively and be flexible in finding solutions to problems. Being rigid makes it harder to find a win-win solution. Basically, the options are “get by” or adapt. However, to survive, the project manager must be flexible and adapt. The key factor here is the ability to find a solution “whatever it takes.” When initial assumptions turn out to be wrong, there has to be an attitude of finding a solution, not dwelling on the problem.

Don’t be too rigid and learn to bend the rules from time to time. Very restrictive rules and plans will create their own problems and ultimately lead to frustration and inefficient processes. Remember that red tape and rules tend to stifle creativity.

2) Take into account the prize – Be very clear on your goal or end goal. A successful delivery is highly dependent on understanding and agreeing to the requirements up front. You can then use them as the final success criteria for the successful approval of your project. Delivering on time and on budget is good, but the true art, the true skill, is in delivering a project as the user originally envisioned it.

3) A positive attitude – Generally, the Project Manager has to be an active figure, a decisive leader, a good ‘people person’ and not a spectator. A Project Manager has to deal with a variety of situations, work with many people, and experience a large number of problems and risks. To see the light at the end of the tunnel, it is important to have a strong, proactive and positive personality.

4) look ahead – You cannot see all problems on the horizon, but you can anticipate common problems. Practice the good habit of looking ahead, talk to other project managers who have been there before you. Read reports of lessons learned from previous projects. In many cases, you will see common problems crop up over and over again. Anticipating them will put you in a much stronger position to deal with them when they finally arise.

Remember to ask lots of questions. Assuming you know everything about the project is a dangerous path. Instead, try to have a clear understanding of the process, experiences, and issues. That way, you’ll be in a much stronger position to deliver a successful project that users will support. Don’t take things at face value. Look for hidden agendas and conflicting goals, identifying them can help the Project Manager identify potential areas of conflict or resource problems. Go below the surface and find out where the pain is. Work closely with stakeholders and by the end of the exercise you will have a list of the main areas to solve. You may also consider setting up display groups to ensure that you are on the right path to delivery.

5) Avoid misunderstandings – Clearing up misunderstandings quickly can save a lot of pain later in the project. One of the most common problems a project manager encounters is misinterpretation. Various people can and will agree to a set of requirements or specifications, however they may have slightly different interpretations of the details included. Unless you can identify and clear them up early, you will be mounting problems for yourself later in the project. Again, a workgroup or visualization sessions often help clarify these issues.

6) Project time control – Be a good time manager. A good project manager must be personally good at time management. If you are not punctual and you are not prepared, how can you transmit these qualities to your project?

7) Use the best tools available, but don’t be dominated or distracted by them. – Understand the basic concepts of project management tools. A good Project Manager requires a good rudimentary knowledge of the tools that exist. (or have a team to do it). These tools can give you the edge that means the difference between success and failure.

Follow these top seven key secrets and you will find that you are well on your way to successful projects time and time again.

For your future success!