BETTER AT WORK: This is why your project is failing (and how to fix it)

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Project Management is clearly one of the most difficult jobs. Between remote teams, unknown factors, shifting budgets, company politics and a ton of paperwork and scrum sessions, Project Managers are the behind-the-scenes heroes of successful product launches. In an ideal world, everything can be carefully planned and managed but in real-time scenarios, things look very different. After working in the trenches through hundreds of product launches, there are five pitfalls I think all Project Managers and Program Managers need to watch out for:

1. Red Tape: You weren’t warned in advance and then discover that official approval processes take ages and projects come to a complete still stand while “in review”. This can be a black hole that sucks your project right down the drain if you are not careful. The solution boils down to having your own powerful contacts, whether an executive or Legal Counsel or preferably both. Projects can be carefully planned to anticipate and prevent getting stuck in reviews.

2. Too Many Roles: No one knows enough or takes responsibility for anything real: So many fancy titles, so little “real” work! Have you ever managed a project where there is a large group of people assigned but only a very few working? Make sure you have a very clear scope and get only the sizing you…