The Right Way for the Project Manager to Start 2024

The new year brings new opportunities. But it also brings overwhelm. The project team has taken a few weeks away and now work needs to start afresh. You, as a key member of the project team may feel the additional weight of responsibility for getting things moving again. All while feeling overwhelmed yourself. So lets look at the best ways to get your year started off in the right way.

Reconnect with your team

Building strong relationships amongst your team is essential for project success. The start of the year provides an excellent opportunity to reconnect with your team members. Organize a team-building session or a casual meeting to discuss both professional and personal goals. Understanding the aspirations and concerns of your team members fosters a collaborative and motivated work environment. Reinforce the importance of open communication and teamwork, setting the stage for a cohesive and productive year ahead.

Also, take the time to evaluate the skill set of your team members and identify any gaps. Plan for training or skill development programs to enhance the capabilities of your team. Your team will value the effort you put into prioritising their needs.

Review the year that has been

Before you dive into the challenges and opportunities that the new year brings, it's crucial to take a step back and evaluate the year that has just concluded. Reflect on the successes, setbacks, and lessons learned. Analyzing the past helps in identifying patterns, understanding team dynamics, and recognizing areas that need improvement. Conduct a thorough review of project timelines, budgets, and outcomes. This introspection will lay the foundation for a more informed and strategic approach in the coming year.

Do your introspection and retrospective review on your own first and then create a review with the entire team. But be sure to come into the wider team meeting with no pre-conceived ideas. Allow your team to bring their own perspectives on the year that has passed. Create a document to record insights. In addition to description, write what worked, didn’t work, and what can be improved. Doing this analysis will allow the team to have their ideas heard, will create change-champions and prevent the same issues from recurring.

Check in on your clients

Client satisfaction is the cornerstone of project management. Take the time to check in with your clients to gauge their level of satisfaction with the completed projects. Discuss any concerns or feedback they may have and use this information to enhance future collaborations. Strengthening your client relationships not only ensures their continued trust but also opens doors for potential new opportunities. A proactive approach to client engagement is key to sustaining long-term partnerships. Organise a presentation or create a document to give them. Be sure to keep things light and use plenty of graphics, photos or video rather than dense, wordy documents. Clients are also overwhelmed at this time of the year and would prefer to see uplifting imagery. Be sure to keep interactions light and focus on creating a positive tone which will continue for the year ahead.

Set your intentions for the next year

Setting clear intentions for the upcoming year is fundamental to project planning. Define your goals, both for personal and professional growth, and align them with the broader objectives of your organization. Establishing a roadmap will guide your decision-making throughout the year. Share your intentions with your team, fostering a sense of shared purpose and direction. A well-defined vision acts as a compass, guiding your projects towards success. Remember that you are in control of your effort, and not much else. Create effort-goals and not outcome-goals. You are more likely to be satisfied and proud of your efforts, whether or not your projects are successful.

Keep your goal/intention setting brief. You cannot achieve too many things simultaneously. You are much more likely to become overwhelmed by this. 5 goals is a good benchmark. Spread these across personal and professional domains. If possible, find an accountability buddy who will help you stay on track throughout the year. Not everyone will agree or align with your goals so don’t feel the need to share them too widely.

Understand the Time/Cost Status of the Project

Effective project management requires a keen understanding of the time and cost implications of ongoing and upcoming projects. Conduct a comprehensive assessment of the time and cost status of each project in your portfolio. Identify any potential risks or deviations from the initial plan and develop strategies to mitigate these issues. This proactive approach ensures that projects stay on track and are delivered within the specified timelines and budgets. Once you are up to date with the time and cost status of every project, you will feel much less stressed and overwhelmed. Organise the information in an easy to find manner for you to glance at and refresh your memory until you get back into regaining a deeper understanding of the projects.

Conclusion

The beginning of the year is a great time to set the tone for the rest of the year. It is prime time to reconnect with your team and clients and to restart relationships. However it is also stressful and you may find yourself feeling overwhelmed and unfamiliar with your projects. Therefore spending some time reflecting and gathering the most important project metrics is a worthwhile exercise. Overall, be gentle with yourself and your team over this beginning period and the year is much more likely to be a successful one.