The document discusses 10 common project management mistakes in three categories - people mistakes, profit mistakes, and process mistakes. Some key people mistakes include incorrectly forecasting staff needs, hiring based on short-term skills, and hiring the wrong people. Key profit mistakes include taking on unprofitable work and lacking financial visibility and control. Key process mistakes include writing bad statements of work, bulk resource scheduling, and not tracking costs of acquiring new business. The document provides solutions for avoiding these mistakes such as managing projects and staff as distinct profit and loss statements, establishing process standards, and regularly reviewing past work.

1. 10 Common
Project Management Mistakes
...and how to avoid them!

2. Growth
“The best worst problem to have”

3. P R O F I T SP E O P L E
The Biggest Mistakes
P R O C E S S

4. The People Mistakes
P R O F I T SP E O P L E
P R O C E S S

5. The People Mistakes
● Incorrectly forecasting staff requirements.
● Hiring based on skills needed for the short term.
● Hiring the wrong people.

6. The People Solution:
● Work with contractors, specialists, other strategic
service providers.
● Make your next hire for operational expertise.
● Tout your network as an agency benefit.
Create an on-demand, talent network

7. The Profit Mistakes
P R O F I T SP E O P L E
P R O C E S S

8. The Profit Mistakes
● Introducing new services not good for business.
● Taking on work that is not profitable.
● Not giving financial visibility and control to your account teams.
● Accepting projects you can’t deliver on.

9. Manage each project as a distinct P&L
● Managing everything in your business as a project. With a P&L.
● Make profitability adjustments at the project level.
● Consider firing a client to manage profitability.
The Profit Solution:

10. The Process Mistakes
P R O F I T SP E O P L E
P R O C E S S

11. The Process Mistakes
● Writing a bad SOW.
● Bulk resource scheduling.
● Not tracking the cost of new biz.

12. The Process Solution:
Establish Process Standards
Set aside 1
day to review
the previous
month’s
closed work.
● How much did it cost you to win business
● What pieces were profitable
● What was not profitable
● What were the delivery challenges
● Is your client happy
● Is your team happy
● Are you happy

14. You’ve managed projects. Now manage margins.
Mavenlink

15. Thank You!