A day in the life of an IT Project Manager | Niks Projects

Summary

In this video, Nikhil, a PMP and CSM certified project manager, shares a typical day in his professional life, highlighting the structure of his work routine pre- and post-pandemic. He discusses his morning meetings with a global team, afternoon tasks that involve project planning and communication, and the challenges of working from home. Emphasizing the importance of organization and effective communication, Nikhil outlines the various activities he engages in, including documentation, emails, and training. For those interested in a deeper understanding of project management, he offers an online course packed with practical insights and tools.

Takeaways

• 😀 Nikhil is a certified project manager who shares insights into his daily routine and responsibilities.
• 🕖 He typically wakes up between 6:00 and 6:30 AM and aims to arrive at the office by 8:00 AM.
• 📞 Mornings are reserved for global team meetings, where he addresses project updates and team challenges.
• 📝 After meetings, he organizes documentation, including meeting minutes, action items, and updates on issues and risks.
• 🍽️ Nikhil takes a 30-minute lunch break around 1:00 PM to recharge.
• 💻 In the afternoon, he focuses on project deliverables like presentations and project plans, spending a majority of his time coordinating activities.
• 📅 On average, 70-80% of his time is spent communicating via emails, calls, and meetings.
• 🏢 Nikhil's work schedule has shifted to a hybrid model, with three days in the office and two days working from home.
• ⏳ Working from home poses challenges, such as a lack of work-life boundaries and extended hours.
• 🔄 Communication is a critical component of a project manager's role, involving both upstream (leadership) and downstream (team) interactions.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of Nikhil's YouTube channel?

Nikhil's channel is focused on project management, providing videos to help viewers advance their project management careers.

What time does Nikhil typically start his day as a project manager?

Pre-pandemic, Nikhil would wake up between 6:00 and 6:30 AM, and he would aim to be in the office by 8:00 AM after a 20-minute commute.

What is the main challenge with global team meetings according to Nikhil?

The main challenge is finding a time when all global team members from Europe, Asia, and the U.S. are available. Nikhil tries to schedule these meetings between 8:00 and 11:00 AM Eastern Time.

How does Nikhil manage meeting follow-ups and ensure tasks are tracked?

After meetings, Nikhil organizes meeting minutes, updates issues and risks, and sends follow-up notes and documents to the team. He ensures that tasks and action items are properly tracked and managed.

What activities does Nikhil focus on post-lunch during a typical day?

Post-lunch, Nikhil focuses on deliverables like detailed project plans, presentations, and documentation. However, most of his time is spent coordinating activities across multiple projects via emails, calls, and meetings.

What are the key responsibilities of a project manager in terms of communication?

Project managers are responsible for upstream communication to leadership for approvals and decisions, as well as downstream communication to collect feedback and updates from the team.

How does working from home affect Nikhil's daily routine?

Working from home makes it harder for Nikhil to separate work and personal life. He often finds himself working through lunch and into the evening, which affects work-life balance.

What is Nikhil's approach to organizing his workday and ensuring tasks are completed?

Nikhil spends his day on meetings, emails, ad-hoc calls, and documentation. He is constantly communicating and organizing tasks to ensure smooth project execution. Time management and clear communication are key to his role.

What percentage of a project manager's day is typically spent on emails and communication?

According to Nikhil, about 20% of a project manager's day is spent on emails and communication, including both responding to emails and other forms of communication such as calls and meetings.

What impact does a project's progress and issues have on a project manager's daily activities?

The progress and issues of a project can greatly affect a project manager's day. If a project is struggling, there may be more urgent tasks and communication required to address those issues, affecting the time spent on other activities.