Project Management > How to manage a small project > Accept the Project Manager role

1. Accept the Project Manager Role

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The first thing to do is to accept the Project Manager role by making yourself known to the stakeholders and diplomatically letting them know you're on the job. 

the Project Manager role -- Taking ControlProject Manager is every bit a manager even though the project manager role may only last for the life of the project. You're given a goal and a team of people and the mission of achieving the goal successfully. You, the people you work for, and your team are all players in the project and will determine its success or failure. If you're going to live up to the project manager role, you have to begin by taking control of the project.

Identify all the players or stakeholders. Stakeholders are people who have an interest in the outcome of the project, and anyone with whom you will have to interact to get the job done. They may include:

  • The sponsor 
  • Other executives 
  • The customer 
  • The end users 
  • Your team members 

The sponsor is the one who decided to put you in charge -- in a sense, sponsoring you as Project Manager. He or she is the one that had confidence in you and your abilities and is probably the one who is paying your salary. This person will share the credit or the blame for the project depending on how it turns out -- and is also the one who could reverse the decision and put someone else in the project manager role instead of you.

The customer is the one who can pull the plug on the project. This is the person or group that is paying for the services and project deliverables. The customer may be paying your salary, possibly your sponsor' s salary, and perhaps the salaries of one or more team members. This is the one who receives  your services -- the person or group that you must keep satisfied. The customer will be the ultimate judge of success or failure. If the customer requests a change, you'll have to accommodate it. If the customer is dissatisfied, it will be up to you to fix the problem. The customer is the one you have to keep happy.

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Other executives may be in charge of the end users that will be the beneficiaries of your efforts. They may be in charge of your team members, or they may own or control other resources you will need to get the work finished. Your project and its successful completion may depend on your relationship with them.

The end users are the people who will be affected by the project. This group is made up of those whose lives will be changed by the project or its implementation. They could include the sponsor and the customer, but may include others who will feel an impact. This group may provide resources during the project or after its completion. They may provide input to the planning process. This is the group whose job or procedures may be changed by the project, and if training is needed, they will probably be the ones who are trained.

Your Team Members make up the group that will be doing the work. These are the people that you will be managing. They'll be involved in the kick-off meeting, in the planning meetings, and in the status review meetings. They'll receive your assignments and respond to your requests. They are the ones you'll monitor, and whose performance you'll be judging. You will want to keep them motivated and on track.

All of these people can have an impact on your reputation and credibility. If the project is successful and they feel good about having you in the project Manager role, your reputation will be secure. Be sure you make contact early and often. Make sure they know who you are and that you are in charge of the project. Remember, communication is your most important tool. Keep these people as informed as possible and give each one plenty of opportunity for input.  When communicating, remember that you should be listening for at least the same amount of time as you spend talking, if not more. Establish yourself and your communication channels early, it will go a long way toward making your project successful.

 Next in the series: Create a Project Communication Plan


-Jake Alexander

 

 

 

 


 

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