Alexandra Maduell

The Challenges of Being a Project Manager: Beyond Managing Projects

CATEGORY
Marketing & Communications
YEAR
2024

Managing projects, tasks, or teams isn’t just about following a methodology—it’s a mindset. We often think of projects in a work context, but the reality is that a personal, family, or professional project should be managed in the same way. For me, project management is about staying adaptable, connected, and focused on the results that truly matter. Managing goes beyond traditional methods or frameworks; it's a dynamic way to build real connections within teams, leading to efficient workflows and processes. The result? Happy clients who recommend you, fulfilled personal or family dreams, and a sense of personal growth and satisfaction.

Here’s my personal vision of how to manage projects with a human, flexible, and impactful approach.

Project Management: More Than a Framework—It’s About Empowering People

Efficient project management is about embracing change, challenging routines, and focusing on people rather than processes. It's about finding better ways to work together, adapting quickly, and keeping everyone aligned with the bigger picture.

Five Key Practices for a Successful Project:

1. Start Every Day with Purpose

Regular meetings aren’t just about operational updates—they set the tone for the team. A few years ago, a mentor taught me to start every meeting by highlighting wins, big or small. Pointing out these achievements builds momentum and positivity. A simple question like, “What went well this week?” or “What’s our focus today?” keeps the team motivated and aligned. Just as no one climbs a 100-step ladder in a single leap, every big success is made up of small, meaningful achievements.

2. Keep Your Backlog Focused on What Matters

A backlog should be more than just a task list; it should evolve with your priorities. In our team, we have weekly sessions to go over priorities and identify each project’s focus for the following week, keeping our backlog ‘clean’ and strategic. We also hold quarterly meetings to validate our operations against our goals and explore new opportunities, ensuring every task—each small step—is connected to what truly matters and creates value.

3. Experiment Often, Iterate Quickly

As with everything, trial and error is the best formula. This approach lets you test new ideas and avoid the trap of “we’ve always done it this way.” The key is to quickly adopt what works and incorporate it into your process. Being open to change and quick iterations leads to better results.

4. Turn Retrospectives into Actionable Ideas

At the end of each project, it’s crucial to have “Insights and Learnings” sessions. This is a space to celebrate what went well (so it can be turned into repeatable processes) and learn from what didn’t, identifying red flags for future projects. I encourage everyone to participate, even those who weren’t directly involved, as fresh perspectives often provide valuable insights that enhance continuous improvement.

5. Let Your Team Set the Pace

Flexibility is key. Every team has its own rhythm, and your practices should reflect that. To me, managing a project is like leading an orchestra: there's a structure to guide you, but there’s also freedom to improvise and innovate. This flexibility keeps us connected to the project, creative, and ready to adapt to change.

Extra Tip: Tools to Stay Aligned and Agile

For me, Asana has been a game-changer in applying these principles effectively. More than just a task manager, Asana is my roadmap. It helps track priorities, visualize progress, and see how everything connects to the bigger goal. Most importantly, it allows the team to be truly aligned and work toward a common goal.

Being a project manager is about embracing change, focusing on what matters, and keeping teams connected to their purpose. And by “teams,” I mean both your coworkers and families working toward a shared goal. My approach is simple: be flexible, focus on the people who contribute to your project, and always aim to create value. This way, managing becomes more than just a process or a job title—it becomes a mindset that generates meaningful results.