Lessons Learned from personal experience regarding key attributes for being an effective project manager.

1. Wanda Harris Wilks, PMP, MBA

2. This presentation is based solely on
the personal experiences and
opinions of the author.

3. To Be Effective as a Project Manager
you must understand what it is you
are suppose to do.
Idealistically, PM’s are supposed to:
Manage a team of people and work through
an array of competing constraints in an
effort to produce quality deliverables that
meet specific requirements designed to
create a unique result, service or product.

4. Realistically, we do much more…
…WE WEAR MANY HATS!

5. The PMBOK provides guidance on good practices,
processes and the use of tools and techniques.
However, Project Manager’s must do more than
what is outlined in the PMBOK in order to be
effective.

6. By balancing
the
application of
key abilities
that move
projects from
beginning to
end you
become more
proficient and
lessen the
Take the Blame
chance of
failure.

7. • Orchestrate – plan and lead
• Communicate – spread the word; make sure information gets
to the appropriate people
• Negotiate – discussion and compromise to get what is needed
and/or wanted
• Solve Problems – determine and apply solutions
• Cultivate; nurture relationships, mentor team members
• Make Tough Decisions; sometimes the best course of actions
is the least favored.
• Piss People Off: You can never please everybody
• Take the Blame: Be willing as the leader to accept
responsibility when things go south.

8. Project Manager’s must possess personal
characteristics that will enable key abilities.
• Sociable - friendly and approachable
• Boldness - confidence and courage
• Flexible - adaptable to change
• Empowered - can do attitude
Desirable
Characteristics
• Collaborative - willing to work with others
• Relentless - determined and driven

9. Mastering the many roles, characteristics and
traits elevates the PM to a level of efficiency
that is respected and appreciated by
management, stakeholders and team members.
As a result the project manager is often viewed
as
“The One”

10. As “The One” management, clients, team members all
see you (the Project Manager) as being solely responsible
for a project success or failure.
• Reason being: Businesses live or die based upon how well
they handle projects and some one must be held
accountable.
• Unfortunately, projects are prone to experience challenges
(especially IT), that are unrelated to the PM’s ability. This
can often lead to early termination or failure.
– Lesson Learned: You must have a strategy to be
effective and shift the odds of success in your favor.

11. The PM’s Effectiveness Strategy is a project
managers ability to identify the key objectives
needed to be productive and consistently achieve
each objective throughout the project lifecycle.
Recommended Key Objectives
– Focus on Top 3 Priorities Daily
– Consistently Manage Risks
– Build Stakeholder Relationships

12. Focus on Top 3 Priorities Daily
• There will always be a long list of priorities
• Make Project Requirements # 1 on the list.
• Determine what else is hot.
–Ask the team
–Review Status Reports
–Listen to Key Stakeholders
• Work only the Main Three
–Everyday until the priority is achieved or
resolved

13.  Consistently Manage Risks
- Be Analytical
- Look for Threats & Opportunities
- minimize for adverse events
- maximize for positive events
- Employ Foresight
- Always Think Contingency
- Share Responsibility – delegate to
others

14.  Build Stakeholder Relationships
― Gain Industry, Client & Product Knowledge
― Clear Communicator; Say what you mean
― Empathetic; See things from their
perspective
― Good Listener; listen to understand rather
than to rebut
― Be Transparent; always keep your cards on
the table (good or bad)

15. An Effective Project Manager….
Solve Problems Deliver what is expected
Achieve Positive Results

16. Lessons Learned regarding how to be an effective
project manager:
―Be ready to wear many different hats.
―Being sociable, bold, flexible; relentless and collaborative
with a “can do” attitude are key assets that will aid you
throughout your project.
―Be strategic & deliberate
―Prioritize and Manage the Top 3
―Manage Risks
―Build Stakeholder Relationships
―Make Things Happen
―Solve Problems
―Deliver What is Expected
―Achieve Positive Results

17. Anatomy of an Effective PM
Lessons Learned
Wanda Harris PMP, MBA