Project management is easier than ever before being a project manager somehow became tougher. Why is that? Software automated a lot of the work, but the way project managers use that time and a concrete value they provide is often questioned. Many people think project managers don’t do anything except boss people around and waste time. The trouble is, they’re not that far off. Learn More: https://www.activecollab.com/pages/l/ebooks/guide-managing-projects-ebook.html

1. How to
Be a Great
Project Manager

2. • Many people think project managers don’t do
anything except boss people around and waste
time. The trouble is, they’re not that far off.
• In the eyes of Joe the developer, project managers
don't do anything. Anything useful, that is.

4. Take Pixar for example…

5. • When their team finished Toy Story, it was a stellar
success. But Pixar's founders had trouble
convincing project managers to stay and work on
another film.
• Why? Project managers were constantly
disrespected, marginalized, and treated like second-
class citizens.
• When management asked artists and technical staff
if that was true, they confirmed it.

6. • Of course, Pixar's management did everything they
could to fix the situation.
• But other organizations either don't have the time
to do that or don't want to admit anything’s wrong.
• To solve this problem, project managers need to
know their real role in a company and the value
they bring.

7. The Many Roles of a Project
Manager

8. • Because they have more contact with the client
(and are the closest to the source of power), they
are susceptible to the "boss" syndrome.
• A project manager is not the "boss" of the team but
the "boss" of the project.
• Good project managers just clearly define the
“what”, let the team decide the “how”.
Role #1: The Boss of the Project

9. • Project managers don't have a large role in the final
outcome of the product, but do have some influence
on the direction.
• So project managers are tempted to hijack work and
micromanage to relieve this existential pressure. But
it rarely ends well.
• The trick to surviving as a project manager is to keep
the ego in check and not fly too close to the sun
Role #2: Pseudo-Creator

10. • While different departments fight for different goals,
you have to make sure no one wins
• Designers may want flashy animation and developers
faster load times, but you can't have both.
• You have to walk a fine line and not let anyone
“improve” the work at the expense of the whole.
• The moment one side wins, the project fails.
Role #3: Keeper of the Balance

11. • You get all the downsides and barely any upside.
• Like a parent, you always have to be there for your
children, no matter how tired or angry you are.
• You won't be very popular: when you're with your
team, you represent your client; when you're with
your client, you represent your team.
Role #4: Adopted Parent

12. • Sometimes, you'll spend your whole day making sure
two people sitting next to each other are working on
the same thing.
• At any given time, you have to know who’s working on
what, who’s on vacation, and which teams are
understaffed.
• In addition to networking and keeping an open ear, you
should systematically centralize information.
Role #5: Know-It-All

13. • If anyone's stuck on anything for any reason, a project
manager should work on resolving the issue.
• A project manager's job is to take non-work off their
team's back so they can spend more time designing
and developing .
• Make each day more productive than the last. The more
you work, the more you can learn and optimize the
process.
Role #6: Productivity Freak

15. • Care more about a project than a particular department's goals
• Praise and give credit when it's due
• Protect team from extra work
• Work on making others more productive
• Are the first ones others turn to for information
• Represent the client in front of the team and vice versa
• Don't dictate the “how” but manage the delivery of the “what”
Recap

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