As a project manager, there are loads of responsibilities that you have to fulfill. From managing your employees and ensuring that tasks and goals are achieved to reporting to executives, a project manager does it all.
In what is great news to project managers everywhere, there is one company that has taught us all valuable lessons when it comes to project management – Uber. Here are some of them.
Create a positive work culture and build strong values
While creating and upholding values are important, it is equally crucial that they contribute to creating a positive work culture. If you are not careful enough, it can be easy to encourage competition rather than collaboration.
While having a competitive spirit isn’t bad, competition can get quite unhealthy if there are no set of values and culture to keep it in check. You want your team to work together seamlessly and not resort to unhealthy, unprofessional, and undignified behavior to get ahead.
There is a thin line between arrogance and confidence
As a project manager, confidence is a critical quality that you must possess. However, you shouldn’t forget to keep yourself in check so as to make sure you do not turn out to be an arrogant leader.
There is an extremely thin line between arrogance and confidence, and the best project managers know how to walk that edge. Confidence means having trust and belief in yourself. Your abilities can certainly help with building a motivated team, but arrogance can be your downfall.
Make it a point to listen to what employees have to say
A good project manager always hears their employees out, especially if they have concerns about the project or if they harbor personal problems that prevent them from giving their best effort. Make sure your employees feel heard, keep your doors open so that they feel welcome to approach you anytime, and always work towards finding appropriate solutions alongside them.
Don’t tolerate unprofessional behavior
A zero-tolerance policy for unprofessional behavior is an integral part of project management. You have to make your employees understand that you are working as one unit and that any sort of conduct that can hamper the integrity of your team or is deemed unprofessional or unethical will not have any place in your office. In other words, it is your responsibility to keep employees in check and provide the necessary action if they act up.
