Project Managing: Why Do-it-Yourself Doesn’t Have to be Completely by Yourself
Photo courtesy of elements.envato.com
On the surface, project management sounds straightforward. A project manager is the person who manages the project, who keeps it on track, who gets to check it off the list. Many of us are used to hearing about the role of project manager within the context of big businesses and corporations. It's a professional job, not necessarily something we think about in terms of our own projects.
Yet, if you're undertaking any project that requires a foray into the unknown (at least for you), a project manager might be exactly who you need in your corner to help you flourish. A project is more than just doing the thing; every project comprises a team, a budget, a schedule, and a goal. If you're operating as a team of one, you might find yourself in over your head or getting burned out by the daily grind of managing and executing your project.
What Exactly Does a Project Manager Do?
A project manager is a problem solver, a forward thinker, someone who understands the project and is familiar with the project field so that the project ultimately comes to fruition. The Project Management Institute describes project managers as “change agents: they make project goals their own and use their skills and expertise to inspire a sense of shared purpose within the project team.” Understanding project management comes with understanding the difference between a project and a program.
“A project has a definite start, a definite end, and definite goals,” said Bob Gramann, a project manager certified through the Project Management Institute and the owner of Compass, a design and building company.
With 37 years of experience in the construction industry, Bob Gramann knows the ins and outs of the kinds of projects he is hired to manage. Breaking each goal into smaller goals and, ultimately, into individual tasks, is a key component of project management. A project manager is the bridge between the dream and reality. A good project manager is one who has a solid understanding of where the project needs to be rigid and where it can be flexible.
Can't I Manage My Project on My Own?
The short answer, of course, is yes, you can certainly manage your project on your own. But having a team and community behind you will make your project more likely to succeed and reach the world.
For the person who takes on the responsibility of managing and executing a project single-handedly, she needs to be prepared to jump back and forth between the myriad things that a project requires. She might need to focus on preparing a budget, raising funds or finding investors, and locking in a supply chain. Or she might be responsible for writing a book, raising funds for a first printing, and creating and executing a marketing and publicity campaign for distribution.
Realistically, whatever your project is, there are going to be pieces of it that you are less than enthusiastic about undertaking. Hiring a project manager helps shift some of that burden from your shoulders. Yes, investing in a team is more expensive than doing it all on your own. But investing in a team is also an expression of hope and self-belief. If you believe in your project, in the value you expect to offer to your community and audience, take the risk and invest in yourself and your project.
What does Working with a Project Manager Look Like?
Let's say your project is publishing and distributing a book. You've got the writing done, but what next? You need a proofreader/editor. You need to format the book for printing and for electronic reading. You need a book cover. You need to find a printer or publisher, which may mean a fundraising campaign. Once you've got the physical book in hand, your attention turns to distribution and marketing. You need social media campaigns. You may want to pay for social media ads or find book reviewers and/or influencers to hype your book up. You may choose to work with local bookstores and libraries to host book signings and to get your book on the shelf (and you'll have to figure out if they can order it themselves or if they can work out a consignment deal with you).
It's not simply a lot of steps; your success requires a network of contacts who can help you accomplish each step. A project manager experienced in self-publishing and promoting will know where you need to pay for services and where you might be able to truly do it yourself. She will know the keywords to use to get your content visible on social media. She'll know which printers give the best deals and which bookstores will be happy to support your journey.
(If you're wondering why you don't often hear authors thanking their project managers, it's because the publishing world usually calls them editors.)
Passion projects can be very vulnerable pieces of ourselves, said Paris Gramann, owner of Empower Creative Agency LLC. Her goal behind the project management firm is to help people with projects move past fear and embrace self-expression and authentic living.
“It's an honor to be part of peoples' journey in that vulnerability,” Paris Gramann said.
Empower's project managers meet clients on a discovery call to learn about the client's goals, desires, and intents. Once they understand what a client wants to accomplish, the project managers can help manage the expectations.
When your project manager reviews your expectations in terms of timeline, budget, and ultimate outcome, he will let you know if you can afford to complete your goal in the time you want or not, Bob Gramann said. Being unwilling to accept an unfavorable reality won't magically make it go away, it'll just lose you your project manager. Good project managers want to work with good clients, and Bob Gramann's advice for being a good client is simple: trust the experience of your project manager. Your success is his success, so he will work hard to help you achieve your goal.
How Do I Find a Good Project Manager?
Finding a project manager is more than just finding someone with good networking and organizational skills.
You don't want to bring someone to your publishing project who has vast experience with, say, clothing manufacturing projects. Equally, you wouldn't bring someone with sales experience to an architectural project. Some projects will have overlap that can be beneficial and some managers will have experience in multiple kinds of projects, but as much as you can (and you absolutely can), you'll want to pursue a project manager who has experience in your kind of project.
Bob Gramann said there are a few things clients can look for when interviewing potential candidates:
Experience: you'll want a project manager with experience on projects similar to yours. An established track record with tangible, completed projects you can review is important. Additionally, you may request to interview a project manager's past clients to get a first-hand account of what the person is like to work with.
Understanding: a project manager should understand and be able to articulate to you what the role of a project manager is and how to use his skills to plan ahead and execute the project to completion.
Lessons learned: an experienced project manager should be able to give specific examples of lessons he has learned over the course of managing projects. Bob Gramann said in the construction world they are encouraged to keep a project journal highlighting lessons they learned, challenges, and other reflections of the project and process that will help them on the next project.
Transparency: when interviewing a potential project manager, you should be wary of anyone who gives non-answers or tries to dodge questions. This may show that they don't have a good grasp of the role or they do not have the experience you'll be paying them for.
Why Should I Spend Money on a Project Manager?
A quality project manger is going to bring contacts and connections to your project that you wouldn't otherwise have. Instead of taking the time to build a network that branches into all the various professions that your project touches (and it will touch more than you think), hiring a project manager means that network is already in place. You are introduced to people who are already on board to provide the services you need.
Any money you spend on your project is an investment in your project and in yourself. It's impossible to get a project off the ground without spending anything at all. If paying a project manager is something you balk at, you may need to reevaluate your project goals and expectations.
If your self-publishing project is a hobby, just something you're doing in your free time for your own gratification, a project manager may be a luxury and not a necessity. Or it may be a step that you can reconsider at a later date.
But when a project manager is needed, timely consultation is key. Early conversations will help you avoid the pitfalls of doing your work out of order. Bob Gramann said it's never too early to start conversations with a project manager, even if you don't hire right away. For him, the best projects are the ones where he comes on board early and helps the client refine the goal and find the right team to execute it. Even if you plan to do a lot of the work yourself, a project manager can make sure you follow the appropriate work flow—which can save you time and money in redoing work.
Where do I Look for a Project Manager?
Now that you know some of what to look for in a project manager, maybe it's time for you to start looking.
LinkedIn and other social networking sites can be helpful in connecting with professionals. Joining groups relevant to your project can help you make a network of your own and connect you to professionals who can provide the services you need, or in the very least point you in the right direction.
Even classified ad sites such as Craigslist can be useful in finding local professionals working on an independent or freelance basis.
Finally, researching small businesses that provide services for your particular project can connect you with passionate individuals who will support you every step of the way.
“Your long-term project is your life,” Paris Gramann said. And just as it is important to have the right support system to get through every day, it's important to have the right support team to accomplish your project goals.
