Project Management 101: Essential Duties of a Project Manager

From remodeling your home to launching a big initiative at your organization, there’s a person working behind the scenes to make sure everything goes smoothly.

Although you may have minimal interaction with the wizard behind the curtain, know that someone is in charge of scheduling, budgeting, and checking off milestones for your project.

Depending on your role at work or at home, that person may be you.

Who is this superhero that keeps everything running smoothly? Your hero is a project manager.

What is a project manager?

A professional project manager is a person who plans, executes, and oversees the completion of a project. They are responsible for making sure projects start and end on time without going over budget. They may also be held accountable for meeting specific project goals.

Project managers interact with stakeholders (e.g., family members, coworkers, clients, contractors) to get work done. They are often responsible for outlining tasks, making checklists, and ensuring the right people are available to complete necessary tasks.

Although the project manager may not do all the tasks themselves, they are integral in pulling together the right team and resources to finish the job.

What skills should a project manager have?

Project managers must be effective at organization, communication, coordination, and documentation. They must organize tasks logically, communicate with stakeholders, coordinate tasks and events around specific timelines, and document every aspect of the work that needs to be done.

Because project managers are responsible for delivering projects on time and within budget, effectively communicating and coordinating with stakeholders and the project team are critical to the project’s success.

What does a project manager do?

The primary responsibilities of a professional project manager include:

• Budget Management: Monitor expenses. Ensure the project does not exceed the budget. Create financial reports.

• Change Management: Manage the impact of project changes. Adapt the project plan to reflect changes in scope, schedule, budget, or requirements.

• Communication: Communicate and engage with stakeholders and the project team. Manage relationships and interactions among stakeholders and team members. Provide regular updates on project progress.

• Evaluation: Conduct project evaluations. Document lessons learned. Identify areas for future improvement.

• Leadership: Lead and manage the project team. Assign tasks, provide guidance, and foster collaboration among team members. Address the concerns of team members and stakeholders.

• Project Planning: Develop a comprehensive project plan that outlines the scope, objectives, timelines, budget, resources, and risks associated with the project.

• Quality Control: Conduct quality reviews. Ensure the project outcome meets quality standards. Ensure project objectives are met.

• Risk Management: Identify potential risks. Develop risk management strategies to ensure the project stays on track.

• Time Management: Keep the project on schedule. Track progress and important milestones. Identify potential delays and apply corrective actions, when needed.

Project managers use their technical and social skills to navigate the complex field of project management. In addition to defining project tasks, they must assign responsibilities to team members and mitigate risks.

Skills such as leadership, communication, and problem-solving are essential for becoming a successful project manager. Project managers use planning, effective communication, and relationship management to stay on task and on budget.

Project managers are superheroes who bear many responsibilities. They are essential to every aspect of a project. They are at the forefront of the project team, diligently working on the project from start to finish.

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