Without a proper manager in charge of a project, that project can completely fall apart at the seams. Patrick Windley explains what a project manager does to keep things together.
Projects come in all shapes and sizes, but no matter the complexity, a project manager is of the utmost importance to have in the process. Without someone leading the way, delegating tasks, and making sure everyone is on the same page, you run the risk of the project falling apart at the seams. Patrick Windley explains the processes a project manager goes through to make sure that everything goes smoothly.
Patrick Windley on the duties and responsibilities of a project manager
Project managers are typically held in pretty high regard, Patrick Windley notes, but in turn, they are also held to a higher standard than others as they have so much more responsibilities on their shoulders than regular employees do. As such, Patrick Windley notes, project managers need to possess a strong set of skills, a good work ethic, and the ability to lead, especially under pressure. A good manager has to be able to handle things when something goes wrong, after all. If a person lacks a high degree of career ambition, they may not be the right pick to be a project manager, Patrick Windley explains.
The first thing a project manager does is plan things. Next, care must be taken in selecting the best person for each respective job. Of course, Patrick Windley recommends that everyone working on the project is kept abreast of these plans, both in terms of what activities the project will entail and how much of a budget will be allotted. After all, you do not want to have unexpected expenses or an increased workload down the road. A project that goes over budget or past the deadline will usually reflect poorly on the project manager the most, Patrick Windley explains;
since you picked out the members of the project, it falls on your shoulders. One of the best ways to keep everything under control is to make sure that every member of the project is doing their job well. If someone is struggling, you need to be there to guide them and ensure that whatever they are struggling with is handled. The most important thing is that the customer is satisfied upon project completion, as these are the people who matter the most for the bottom line. As Patrick Windley notes, regardless of how difficult a project turns out to be, as long as you stick to your obligations and meet their expectations, the customer should have no cause to be disappointed.
