Three Ways an Epic Project Manager Can Support Their Team
(Originally posted on LinkedIn)
Whether it is a big bang implementation, an upgrade, optimization, or any other Epic project, a Project Manager can make or break the outcome. They are the center point that aligns budget, scope, risk, resource requirements, etc. and are the key to success. With the proper approach, an Epic Project Manager can be the best support structure for their team, and here are the three main ways that they can do it.
Be Collaborative
As a Project Manager (PM) on an Epic project, you will be working with and managing the work of many cross-functional teams while being the point of contact for leadership. Because of this, it is highly important for the PM to have strong communication skills and keep each team informed of where they are at on the project timeline. Ensuring that each team knows the tasks they are responsible for will ensure there is no redundancy of work done and no tasks are left incomplete. These same communication skills will also keep leadership aware of the project status and any additional needs the team has to ensure successful project delivery within the estimated timeline.
Be Organized
Because a PM may be responsible for multiple projects, the organization is key to ensuring nothing falls through the cracks. Multiple projects mean multiple teams, deadlines, tasks, etc. As these tasks add up, it is the responsibility of the PM to organize their workload based on priority, resource requirements, and project status. Being organized in this fashion creates a buffer so that when a project hits a roadblock, everything does not fall apart. Instead, the PM can make quick adjustments to the timeline or reallocate resources to ensure delivery is within scope.
Be Forward Thinking
Planning ahead can be the single most powerful skill of a PM. Projects do not always go as planned and resources are not all equal. Because of this, being forward-thinking allows you to pivot instead of panic if a milestone is trending negatively or a resource is holding up the project as a whole. The trickle-down effect of this approach is that the teams working on your projects will have the confidence that they won't be swarmed with additional work or be allocated tasks that take them beyond 100% utilization. On any Epic project, there needs to be a synergy between leadership, the PM, and the resources working on that project. Implementing these three skills allows everyone to be set up for success while being informed of what is actually going on and how they can do their jobs most effectively.