According to you, what is the most challenging task of a project manager?
- Managing a team of millennials and baby boomers?
- Making difficult decisions?
- Managing the expectations of the client as well as the stakeholders? Or,
- Juggling multiple tasks at once?
Every project is different, and project managers don’t have it easy. No matter how many certificates for project management you have, dealing with project management challenges is pretty taxing.
However, there are some challenges you can prepare for. So let’s discuss some of these challenges and help you control what you can.
Common Project Management Challenges and Their Solutions
1. Goals and Objectives are a Mess
The most common challenge a project manager faces is undefined goals. When goals are unclear, the entire project suffers. When the upper management cannot agree or support the goals, again, the entire project suffers.
The project manager must have a sit down with the stakeholders and the client separately and together. He/she must ask the right questions, establish a clear communication line, and ensure that the goals set are in line with the client and organisation’s expectations.
Want to learn how to ask the right questions and manage the stakeholders’ expectations and the client’s? Consider obtaining a certificate for project management. A certification course can help you understand the importance and criticality of setting the right goals and how to do it accurately.
2. Teams Don’t Communicate
Ask any fellow project manager; they’ll confirm this – keeping everyone on the same page is a pain. It not only makes the project haphazard but also difficult to meet project goals. Each team must know what is going on, what they need to do, and what everyone is working on.
Keeping track of the teams is vital, and it is the responsibility of a project manager to ensure that no tasks are missed.
What can you do to overcome this?
- Bring all your client, team, and stakeholder conversations about a specific task on a single page in order to avoid digging through long email threads.
- Stay on top of the project schedule and always know what’s next in the calendar.
- Know who works on what and get notified of tasks moving from one phase to another, keeping everyone in the loop.
3. Expenses are Inaccurately Estimated
One of the most critical challenges of project management is the failure to estimate expenses correctly.
Did you know that 49.5% of project managers face the challenge of managing project costs?
Cost misestimation can lead to staggering miscalculations and complications in a project development lifecycle. A project requires several elements to stay alive, ranging from software, equipment, human resources, consultation, etc. And each incurring expense must be estimated accurately for the project to survive.
The solution is simple – leverage project management tools. A project management tool can help you calculate the project estimates and monitor project costs along the way. If you aspire to learn about such tools and their working, consider enrolling in a certificate for project management. One such array of online courses you can rely on are the project management courses from IIM. These courses can expose you to every popular project management tool and its practical application, enabling you to pick the right one based on your project requirements.
4. Bosses Ask to Meet Unrealistic Deadlines
It’s normal to have delays in achieving different project milestones. However, you, as a project manager, can prevent the project from going off track. How? By monitoring the project from initiation. It is also pivotal to keep everything and everyone in sync in case the client requests changes that can pose a threat to the timely completion of the project.
Timing activities and leveraging project management tools can contribute a great deal in helping the team stay on schedule.
5. Inadequate Skills in the Bunch
A problem arises when the project manager delegates a task, but the team doesn’t have the requisite skills or training to carry out that task. This can lead to deficiencies in the project completion.
So as a project manager, you must ensure that everyone onboard has the requisite skills, training, and knowledge required to carry the project to the finish line.
However, before you get started on training everyone else, make sure you have the right skills and competencies for the project. This is where project management courses from IIM come into play. By providing 360-degree knowledge into project management, these courses ensure that you have what you need in terms of experience, hands-on skills, and knowledge to make every project a success.
6. Scope Gives You the Creep
Scope creep is real, and it usually arises when the client doesn’t precisely know what they want and lay down vague requirements. This poses a challenge for both the team and the project manager.
How to overcome it?
Being proactive is the answer. Ask the client as many questions as necessary during the planning phase. This can help you map out their exact requirements. It is also necessary to take up ad-hoc change requests, resulting in added costs or delay.
7. Your Project Doesn’t Have Enough Resources
Resource related challenges can have severe consequences. After all, you need the right people to bring your project to life. The problem usually begins when you are assembling the team.
If your company doesn’t use a resource calendar or an online portal to manage all employees, you may find it extremely challenging to identify appropriate resources to join your team. A resource calendar or online portal is very handy. It can help you find the best men/women for the job and find a replacement quicker.
For a well-rounded education and deeper understanding of the project management challenges and how to overcome them, consider enrolling for the certificate for project management from XLRI, the best institute providing BM courses. The benefits of pursuing project management certification from XLRI are countless, ranging from industry recognition, boost the value of your resume, hands-on skills, and all leading to a higher income.
Bottom Line
Now you know the challenges and you know the ideal way to overcome them. All you need is a well-rounded education that can steer you in the right direction. So what are you waiting for? Enrol for the project management courses from IIM and make your way towards career progression.
More Information:
Skills Required For A Career In Project Management
Benefits of Building a Career in Project Management
How to Build a Thriving Career in Project Management?
What Kind Of Jobs Can You Get With A Project Management Certification?
