{"id":1573,"date":"2016-09-09T16:05:47","date_gmt":"2016-09-09T16:05:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wpblog.indigobusiness.co.uk\/?p=1573"},"modified":"2023-10-25T14:47:04","modified_gmt":"2023-10-25T14:47:04","slug":"project-management-for-non-project-managers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpblog.indigobusiness.co.uk\/project-management-for-non-project-managers\/","title":{"rendered":"Project management for non-project managers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Project management, a profession for some – for others, it\u2019s a requirement as well as their day job, no matter what role or level of seniority. As a marketer I manage projects on a daily basis, having never been project management trained. The projects are varied in size and duration, from sending out an internal mailshot to restructuring a team.<\/p>\n

I\u2019d love to say that every project I\u2019ve ever managed has been a success \u2013 most have. I\u2019ve also had some challenges and failures, sometimes my fault and sometimes caused by others. I will admit I did not foresee a lot of the challenges that I\u2019ve faced. Often these challenges are caused by, or from the lack of: time, resources, communication, collaboration; as soon as you start, something changes; and then there are the stakeholders to communicate with and manage.<\/p>\n

I only manage projects off the side of my desk\u2026<\/h2>\n

I spoke to Trish Thurley, our Project Management Master Trainer, and asked her how project management skills would make a difference to me as a marketer, she said \u201cyou\u2019ll be able to use a complete project management process and structure to think, plan and do. Saving you time and highlighting any possible risks that you may encounter \u2013 before they occur!<\/p>\n

\u201cIt isn\u2019t just Project Managers and marketers who manage projects, there are individuals from large and small organisation who are constantly running projects off the side of their desk.\u201d<\/p>\n

Trish reminded me, \u201cproject failure or over-run is not always your fault. As a marketer you will deal with a lot of stakeholders, both internally and externally, you\u2019ll know that lack of buy-in from them or perhaps a brief that\u2019s open to too much interpretation can cause problems. Being able to manage projects, large and small, like a professional Project Manager will help you gain a reputation for delivery.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gain a reputation for delivery<\/h2>\n

\"think-plan-do\"<\/a>Trish shared a model with me and some tips to help me think about the importance of taking the time out to learn about project management. The model is adapted from our Project Management Survival Guide™<\/a> workshop. It shows how trained Project Managers (in the blue) break up their projects into thinking, planning and doing – spending more quality time thinking and planning, and less time doing (because they have effectively planned and mitigated possible risk). Whereas, untrained individuals spend less time thinking and planning, and a lot more time firefighting trying to get things done. Sound familiar?<\/p>\n

Think, plan, do \u2013 some tips from Trish:<\/p>\n