Words From A Seasoned Digital Project Manager: 5 Tips You Should Know
Having spent the last six years of my career in client services and managing teams of 15+ people at one given time, I’ve made a lot of mistakes along the way. Some mistakes I still look back on, and let out a big laugh at how badly I failed in some situations.
I remember my first client ever, being asked to perform Quality Assurance testing on a website that was going to launch in a few short weeks having no idea what I was even testing for. I found myself asking questions like “what does it mean to shorten the height of the nav bar?” Sometimes you have to be put into situations with absolutely no context to see what problems you must solve on your own.
In my years of scheduling meetings, presenting pitches, and working countless hours leading up to the launch of a website, I’ve lashed out at people, come to meetings unprepared and have overworked myself to the point of mental exhaustion. All of these lessons helped me grow, of course. But looking back on these experiences, having little mentorship to walk me through these challenges, I wanted to provide some wisdom for the newbie who is about to dive head first into becoming a digital project manager. These are the tips I wish someone would have given me.
Deadlines are guardrails not road closures
Starting off with the biggest lesson of all; timelines are nice to keep us on track but rarely ever do we follow them to a T. We are human, and we are supposed to ebb and flow with the nature of life. Team members will take time off, Holiday’s will not be accounted for, and humans are known to get sick– frustrating, I know. Strict processes and controlling the outcome is a sure fire way to lead yourself into a hole of fury if you aren’t flexible with the seasons of life.
2. Transparency will save you hours of worry
I’ve learned that no amount of persistent emails, hovering over a team member's shoulder or asking them every 15 minutes what their status is, will help you reach the end goal quicker. If things are not going to plan, or your team is late on delivery, being transparent that you need more time will save you unnecessary stress. There are always work-arounds when dealing with presenting work later than expected. You can easily present the work that is ready, and ask the client for more time on what isn’t quite ready to be revealed. No one will die in the process, I promise.
3. You are only as strong as your ability to speak the truth
This one may come as a shocker…but as a project manager, believe it or not– YOU are the leader that others turn to when things hits the fan. (Really, Nicole!?) Yes, really. If you’re working agency side, that means the client is running to you for updates on progress, and your own team is coming to you when they can’t meet deadlines. It’s up to you to use your voice in a way that lets others know you are in charge, and that you have an important hand in the decision making and creative process.
Not speaking the truth or holding back your thoughts on someone's work for fear of judgment or that it won’t be well received, may cost you more of a headache down the road. You are the main point of contact between the client and the work being produced, so you know your clients best and what will light them up. If you notice your team is veering away from the brief or project at hand, it’s time to speak life into that situation and get things back on track.
4. You steer the ship, but your team powers the engine
You control the take off, delivery and the landing of the project, but your team powers the mechanics. Your job is to set solid foundations for your team to become successful, meaning that you control the process of setting meetings and daily check in’s, proofreading decks and presentations, intervening when you notice the work isn’t up to par with what the client has requested.
You steer the ship, but your team must execute on your behalf. If you try to execute what your team members should be doing, you’re not only doing yourself a disservice by not setting boundaries, but you’re also stepping on your team's toes, and breaking trust with them. Remember that you are the captain but you must get your passengers to their destination safely. This can only be done with trust.
5. Learn how to merge logic with creativity - in a productive way
If you are a project manager in a creative field, you are going to bud heads with certain people on your team. There’s a reason you are a project manager instead of a creative director. Don’t get me wrong, project managers are extremely creative; we’re problem solvers at our core. However, it takes a strong level of awareness to know when it’s your place to provide creative feedback vs. letting the creatives on your time win that battle. It’s your job to intervene when the time is appropriate, and to be honest this comes with just that– time. When you’re first starting out, provide creative feedback in a productive way that doesn’t encroach on the work being presented.
To conclude, being a project manager is not for everyone. Many prefer to sit on the sidelines and be told what to do in their job, however project managers are leaders. And it takes someone with extreme empathy, compassion, drive, humor & loyalty to get the job done efficiently.
Are you up for the challenge?
Cheers,
Nicole
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