There are two ways to look at project management; the old way, and the new way. Here is what they look like:
Old Way:
- Micromanaging
- Strict, rigid schedules
- Late feedback that can lead to expensive fixes
- Lower morale
- Slow production due to lack of understanding of expectations and bottle-necking
New Way:
- S.M.A.R.T. goals are set, and the team is responsible for setting their own schedule for achieving
- Team is held accountable with reporting at checkpoints (this also allows course-correction)
- Constant feedback and course-correcting
- Empowered team = higher morale
Learn how to manage projects in a way that empowers your employees, keeps your finger on the pulse, sets clear expectations, and gets results:
- Set S.M.A.R.T. Goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Time-bound).
- Create checkpoints for your team to report back progress and allow for identifying bottlenecks before they create a problem.
- Set clear expectations. If the team knows what needs to be accomplished before starting the project, it allows them to come back and ask questions that will help them achieve their goals.
- Incorporate a tool for measuring progress. This could be a production quota, or something else that suits the type of project.