The job of a project management professional includes organizing, planning, and executing projects while they also work simultaneously on setting up the budgets and schedules. In other terms, a project management professional binds the whole team together and makes sure that everything runs smoothly and all the tasks assigned to the particular team are completed on time without any hiccups.
The success or failure of any project indirectly depends on the project manager and their capabilities to do the intended job. The project manager's professional role is not limited to any single industry, and you can get an idea about roles and responsibilities and what else any proof project management professional does in the points mentioned below.
Key Responsibilities of a Project Manager
Under the broad umbrella, you can say that the role of a project manager translates to organizing and planning. They are also responsible for ensuring the project remains within budget and is completed on time. But there is more to it than meets the eye.
Many individuals fail to see that from overseeing any project, the manager can easily define the shape it may take and the development trajectory it might follow. They can help reduce the cost while simultaneously increasing the revenue altogether and ensuring that everything runs efficiently.
The exact duties of any project management individual will be based on the industry they work in or the project that they might oversee, but irrespective of that, they should always heed the project life-cycle while working on any project. The project life cycle consists of five different phases and is responsible for the proper completion of any project.
- Initiating
- Planning
- Executing
- Monitoring and controlling
- Closing
These are just not any steps but processes that any project management professional follows throughout the life of a project. The responsibilities of any project manager vary throughout the different phases of the project life cycle.
Day-to-day Responsibilities of a Project Manager
The specific task for any project manager will substantially depend on the project's phase. Still, there are some general tasks that any project manager has to fulfill on a day-to-day basis.
Setting proper communication with the team members.
The key role of any Project Management job is to establish communication within the team, whether it is through calls, daily check-ins, email, or any team meetings that might occur. It is important that project managers properly communicate with any team members regularly to make sure the project is a work in progress and get an idea about any potential fires that need to be extinguished.
Communicating with stakeholders
Just like it is important to maintain good communication with the team members, it is also necessary for the smooth running of the project that managers remain in regular contact with the key stakeholders. They need to be updated regarding the project progress and aligning with the company initiatives. The communication can be in any form, whether it be meetings, emails, calls, updated dashboards, or even the weekly and monthly reports. Regardless of the mode of communication used, it is essential that you keep the stakeholders in the loop.
Identification and resolution of any possible problems
Throughout the whole timeline of your project, it is common for any kind of problems to occur. But the role of the project manager is to make sure to provide the solution for it. Be it regarding the project's scope, budgeting issues, resource allocation, or other miscellaneous problems. The project manager must make sure that these problems should be taken care of without any delay so that the project progress can remain on the upward trajectory.
Budgeting
Cost estimation is one of the most important tasks when it comes to any of your projects. Depending on the scale of the project, the timeline to go over the budget varies. For the small-scale projects, it can be a monthly or weekly task. However, the managers might have to go through the budget every day for larger projects to ensure that the project does not overstep budget restrictions or allocated resources. If any partnerships are present in the project with outside vendors, the manager will also have to go through many invoices to review and approve the suitable ones.
Time management and approval
In order to keep track of the project progress, many project managers use different types of Management software. The software allows them to keep an eye on the team's progress and ensure that everything is completed efficiently and within the given deadline. It will also provide an idea to the managers about how the team members are using their time and give them a chance to alternate resources within the projects if required.
Team building
A good project manager steps out of his way to ensure that each project target is acquired on time and keeps their team happy and productive. A part of this entails different types of team-building and morale-boosting sessions after difficult projects or challenges that your team might face. Organizing lunches or team picnics might be some suitable examples.
A career in project management
Project management is definitely a booming field for anyone looking for career options. If you wish to pursue a career in project management, it is important that you develop the required skill set to complete all the tasks and responsibilities that will be assigned to you. The role of a project management professional requires great leadership and management skills and means that your tasks and that of your teammates will depend on you.
You can consult career counselors and the internet if you wish to pursue a career in Project management. Various programs will help you earn a degree in project management, or you can also go for some short-term diploma courses that can help you achieve your goal. These will not only make you more employable but will also help you land in the higher salary slabs.
