What is the role of a project manager?

This saying is accurate, but if your project manager lacks the necessary abilities and knowledge, you can wind up with a splattered mess instead.

Principal duties of a project manager

In many different businesses, project management is essential. However, even if the processes and results may change, the job of the project manager remains largely the same.

This is due to the fact that all project managers, whether they work in software development or construction, have the same basic duties of organizing, supervising, and completing projects.

Whether the project’s deliverable is a new building or the deployment of a new feature, you still want it completed effectively and efficiently from start to finish.

To help you understand what project managers do and why it matters, we have broken out those project manager accountabilities at each level of the project management process.

1. Project planning (in line with business objectives)

The project manager’s first duties include establishing the project’s scope and coordinating with stakeholders to establish expectations.

Here, the project manager makes sure the initiative is aligned with a larger strategic objective, outlines the parameters of “success,” and secures support from all relevant parties.

This is the point where, in addition to all of these strategic components, “nuts and bolts” planning is implemented. Based on the agreed-upon scope and deliverables, such as the project budget, resource needs, and timeframe, the project manager will lay out the strategy for the work.

To ensure that the project works well and that everyone involved understands what “running smoothly” means, all of this preparation at the outset is essential.

2. Allocating resources to the project (and efficiently budgeting for those resources)

The project manager must make arrangements to see through the plan to completion. You need time, money, and people power for it.

Stated differently: resources.

In 26% of unsuccessful projects, “resource dependency” was the main reason for the failure, followed closely by “limited or taxed resources” (21%) and “inadequate resource forecasting” (18%), according to the PMI’s Pulse of the Profession Report.

Therefore, resource management has a lot on it. It’s particularly challenging since, as a PM, you will never have as many resources as you would want. Resources will always be scarce.

In light of this, the project manager’s job is to use the few resources they do have as wisely and effectively as they can.

In order to prevent burnout before it occurs, a project management platform is especially helpful as it gives managers complete visibility over everyone’s workloads, allows them to track all of their resources (and determine which ones are still available for use), and helps them quickly identify areas where they may be at risk of exceeding capacity.

3. Project management (even in the face of setbacks)

Life, um, finds a way, no matter how well-thought-out and wonderfully managed your project is.

That is to say, at some point, things will most likely stray from your nice project plan.

However, excellent project managers are prepared for the unexpected. They are aware of potential risks since they have conducted a risk assessment as part of their due diligence.

In order to identify any bottlenecks before they become problems, they are keeping track of their deadlines and available resources. Additionally, they possess the composure to react quickly and flexibly to changes as they arise.

Even if they have to take a detour or mend a sail in order to get there, they are the ones that keep the ship moving in the correct direction.

4. Encouraging the project team and bringing up the best in each individual

The traditional three come to mind when you think about project management duties. The three that we’ve been referring to frequently are timeframes, budgets, and resources.

Of certainly, those are really significant. But in addition to being well-organized and flexible, a superb project manager also possesses emotional intelligence.

The finest project managers are equipped with emotional intelligence, which helps them to resolve conflict, understand what drives each team member, and maintain a sense of happiness and worth among all members of the project team.