Small business management might sound like a small world where activities are not as urgent as in the larger organizations. While this might be true for some firms, most of the days, in the small marketing firms, are intense and tedious. Job monotony is especially true for junior programmers and designers who create project management software to help run a small business.
Most project managers enjoy their job in small marketing and technology companies. To begin with, the boss’s office was just a few steps away, and project managers have easy access to the decision-makers at all times. That means that they have a significant influence on the day-to-day decisions that are made by the firm. Project managers also have the luxury of getting faster approval for their ideas. While it might seem as though they are a bit spoiled, serving as a project manager for companies is no walk in the park.
However, from the experience of most project managers, running a small business requires attention to detail when it comes to dealing with customers. Product promotion and employee appraisal are some of the other critical aspects that should never be ignored. Real success can be achieved by applying the strategies below to every project you manage:
1. Draw the line between providing people with guidance and getting their work done
There is a very thin line between giving guidance and doing people’s work in project management. This tightrope is especially true for project managers in small businesses. While drawing the line can be quite tricky, you need to keep reminding yourself and your project team members that your job is to make sure the project progresses as scheduled. Each member of your team needs to know their responsibilities in the project, and they should be able to provide results on schedule.
While keeping track of each individual’s responsibilities can be too tedious, all you need to do is be a good observer. Pay attention to each of your team members’ reaction to different communication styles. Additionally, decide on the most appropriate approach to get the message across.
2. Work Within Your Limits
More often than not, as a project manager, you need to know when to say no to certain proposals from your bosses, clients, team members, and even yourself. The success of your project will depend on your ability to stay within the limits of resources allocated for the project. You should also encourage your team members to resist the temptation to employ more resources and time than the scope of the project allows.
3. Understand Your Role
As a project manager, it might be hard always to keep track of every detail of your projects. The good news is that you don’t have to. Your role is to see the bigger picture and keep the team working towards the goal. A successful project manager will also help his team-mates to understand their roles in meeting the objective without necessarily dictating how they need to do it.