Level Up Your Project Management With These 10 Essential Steps!

Summary

In this video, Bill Dow shares ten critical project management steps essential for successful project execution. Drawing on over 30 years of experience across various industries, he emphasizes the importance of setting up a solid project environment, building customer relationships, and developing key documents like the project charter. Other key steps include resource allocation, creating a project schedule and budget, establishing a rhythm for meetings, and reporting progress. Bill encourages project managers to master foundational practices before delving into methodologies, highlighting that effective project management is a marathon, not a sprint.

Takeaways

• 📁 Set up a project environment with essential tools like document repositories and various logs.
• 🤝 Build strong customer relationships by understanding their requirements and communication preferences.
• 📜 Develop a project charter to clearly outline the project's scope and objectives.
• 👥 Identify and obtain necessary project resources, including team roles and responsibilities.
• 🗓️ Create a high-level project schedule to set timelines and key milestones.
• 💰 Establish a project budget in collaboration with leadership and accounting teams.
• 📈 Develop a rhythm of business by scheduling regular status meetings and updates.
• 🔄 Execute project deliverables through weekly syncs and effective planning.
• 📊 Regularly report on project progress, including financials and resource allocation.
• ✅ Complete the project by following best practices for closure and documentation.

Q & A

What are the 10 critical steps for project managers mentioned in the video?

The 10 critical steps include setting up a project environment, building customer relations, developing a project charter, obtaining project resources, developing a project schedule, establishing a project budget, developing a rhythm of business, executing project deliverables, reporting project progress, and completing the project.

Why is setting up a project environment important?

Setting up a project environment is crucial because it establishes a foundation for storing documents, tracking issues, managing risks, and facilitating communication among project stakeholders.

What tools can be used to set up a project environment?

Tools for setting up a project environment include SharePoint, Google Drive, Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), and various project management tools like Jira, Asana, and Monday.com.

How should project managers build customer relations?

Project managers should build customer relations by identifying their primary customers, reaching out to understand their requirements, and clarifying their communication preferences.

What is a project charter and why is it important?

A project charter is a key document that outlines the project's objectives, scope, and stakeholders. It is important because it provides a clear direction and authority for the project.

What types of resources might a project manager need to obtain?

Resources a project manager may need include business analysts, technical leads, developers, testers, training leads, and organizational change management leads, depending on the project's nature.

What does developing a project schedule entail?

Developing a project schedule involves creating a high-level timeline that includes key milestones, deliverables, and resource assignments to ensure the project stays on track.

How can project managers establish a project budget?

Project managers can establish a project budget by collaborating with leadership to determine financial resources and working with accounting teams to finalize budget allocations.

What is meant by 'rhythm of business' in project management?

'Rhythm of business' refers to the regular cadence of meetings and reports, including status updates, phase gate meetings, and executive meetings, which are vital for maintaining project momentum.

What should project managers focus on after executing project deliverables?

After executing project deliverables, project managers should focus on reporting project progress, which includes financial updates, resource status, and any phase gate reviews, followed by properly closing out the project.