Communication Skills in Project Management

Written by | Published August 10, 2012

Communication Skills in Project ManagementTraining in project management techniques such as PRINCE2 will give you the theory of how to structure and run a project. We’ll also give you case studies and real-world applications of the knowledge to make it easier to start managing projects when you return to work. Understanding the importance of  other skills such as communication is also critical to project success.

Within any project management framework, there are important documents to be drawn up, referred to and maintained. This requires excellent written communication skills as well as knowledge of the paperwork required. Verbal communication skills are necessary in order to keep your team updated and motivated, to explain the project to stakeholders, and to provide the Project Board with progress reports.

With that in mind, here are our top tips for communication in project management.

Listen

When most people think of effective communication, they think of how they deliver information to others. This is far from accurate – communication is a two-way street and improving your skills must begin with making an effort to truly listen and understand. Read the rest of “Communication Skills in Project Management”

Posted in Blog Posts, PRINCE2, PRINCE2 Courses, PRINCE2 Principles, PRINCE2 Resources, PRINCE2 Strategies, PRINCE2 Training Courses, Project Management, Project Management Tools, Team Management | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | No comments yet

Top Tips For Managing A Project Team

Written by | Published April 3, 2012

When managing a project, it’s easy to get bogged down in the details of the task in hand and to forget about the team working for you. Being task-oriented at the expense of the people will lead to inefficient use of time and resources – and will be a serious risk to the success of your project.

Learning project management standards such as PRINCE2 will teach you how to balance your priorities and ensure success. We provide PRINCE2 Foundation Training and PRINCE2 Practitioner Training courses at our central Brighton training centre.

Here are our 7 top tips on how to work with your team to ensure project success.

square-peg-round-hole

Don’t put a square peg in a round hole!

Match the staff to the project

Make sure the people you have for your project are the most suitable for the job. It’s a simple tip but surprisingly often overlooked. Your most hard-working member of staff may always seem like the right person but no amount of hard work can make someone creative if the task demands it. Balancing expertise, talent and personality is
tough – but essential.

If you need to give any training, do this before you start or include it as part of your project plan.

Give them background…and a vision

By explaining the background to the project – past successes and even failures – you will be laying the groundwork for ensuring their faith in the project. You need their buy-in for the project to succeed, so make sure they are confident that it’s a valid objective based on what’s gone before.

Simply giving your team the background behind a project doesn’t automatically lead to understanding of the outcomes and benefits. As well as, of course, outlining what specific objectives you need to achieve, let them know the long-term benefits to the organisation – and to them. Be as specific as you can about how their hard work will pay off. Read the rest of “Top Tips For Managing A Project Team”

Posted in Blog Posts, PRINCE2 Management, PRINCE2 Principles, PRINCE2 Processes, PRINCE2 Strategies, Project Management, Project Management Tools, Team Management | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 comment

Making Business Decisions on a Gut Feeling

Written by | Published March 8, 2012

Are you a successful business leader? One of the biggest mistakes within many organisations is allowing senior managers to base business decisions purely on ‘gut feel’. The worst offenders commence and then stop projects on a whim, with no sound business reasoning behind the decision. They are time-wasters and inefficient. Not the sort of person you want work with, or for.

Don’t get me wrong – gut feelings are not all bad, as long as they can be supported with good quality market data. Visionaries including, in my opinion Steve Jobs, are often inspired to pursue ideas based on gut feeling, but the next step is to collect and analyse market and financial data, not to start the project!

Essential, Not Just a Bonus

So what’s the answer to employing quality decision-makers? It’s not rocket science, it’s ensuring they have good project management skills. These are some of the most sought after skills in the global job market today. PRINCE2 is the industry standard project management qualification which employers look for when hiring and promoting staff.

Our PRINCE2 Training courses have impressive pass rates thanks to our excellent trainers, guaranteed small class sizes and comprehensive pre-course material all covered in the price. We run both PRINCE2 Practitioner Training and PRINCE2 Foundation Training in Brighton but can also come to your premises to train if that is favourable.

project-management-decisions

Project management qualifications are not just a ‘nice to have’, they are essential in today’s competitive market place. And effective project management is required at all levels, from new graduate recruits to long-standing executive managers. It’s what makes the difference between the winners and the losers.

It’s Your Responsibility

Efficiencies and the profitability of a company is dependent on having these
skills at the top of an organisation. High- level managers who don’t understand or under-value the importance of following consistent and effective processes to meet business goals are failing to meet their management responsibilities.

However, it is not necessary for every manager within an organisation to possess project management skills, but everyone should have a basic understanding, and be willing act on senior project managers’ recommendations. Read the rest of “Making Business Decisions on a Gut Feeling”

Posted in Blog Posts, PRINCE2 Strategies, Project Management, Team Management | Tagged , , , , , , , | No comments yet
Page 1 of 3123