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How to manage projects successfully – without going crazy (23 Oct 07)
At least half your success as a tenant involvement officer depends on this one vital skill
Do any of these 3 scenarios sound familiar to you? I wouldn’t be surprised if you said “all of them”.
- Residents are organising a festival to run in six months. You must organise, promote, and run the event. With an advisory committee, you will plan the activities, arrange contracts with vendors, allocate and prepare space, and arrange everything with the landlord, police, and other organisations.
- A new tenants’ handbook is needed. You have been asked to write, publish, and distribute it. You must select the right content, write it or find a writer, and make certain that it is distributed to every tenant who needs it.
- Tenants say they need training in committee skills. They have suggested a quarterly workshop. You have to design and deliver the training.
What do these situations have in common? In each, you must take the lead to make sure all the necessary steps occur - on time and without spending more money than you have been given. The key to success is your ability to lead.
You must be a planner, organiser, negotiator, problem solver, and communicator. You must be an effective “project manager.”
You have professional training and skills, but only about half your success depends on knowing your discipline. The other half – at least - depends on your project management and leadership skills. Did you know that?
You understand housing, community development and regeneration. But do you understand how to manage the many different aspects of a project? Do you know how to bring people together, coordinate their work, develop goals and a plan, and keep activities focused and on schedule? Do you know how to prevent common problems, and what alternatives to pursue if they occur?
Take the community festival I mentioned. Here are 6 things you need to do as project manager
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