Keys to Success in Project Management

My latest book, So, You Want To Be A Project Manager? was going to be my shortest book. I had planned for it to be a primer on the mindset and habits for growth in project management. But more words turned into more pages which spilled into more chapters.  

​Honestly, my first draft was a MESS. The concepts were even more eclectic than this revised version. Thankfully some good friends gave earnest feedback and constructive criticism which helped me to strip things down to this current form.  

Having a good peer network is a great resource for your personal and professional development. I was glad to be able to incorporate insights on project management from everyday restorers throughout this book.

One such restorer is David Watts, who was involved in the intricate 2019 fire restoration for The Cathedral of St. John the Divine in Manhattan.  When I asked him about some of the mindsets that have helped him to be successful in project management. He replied,  

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Mindsets for Success in Project Management

• A can-do attitude and the determination to figure out difficult situations.
• Knowing that I have limitations.
• Knowing that I do not know it all.
• Maintaining the desire to learn more about our industry and network with professionals smarter than me to pull me up to the next level in the restoration field.

When I asked David about some of the habits that have helped him to be successful in his roles, he shared the importance of the PLAN (which is an element of SPEeD). The project manager must create a process for clear and consistent communication. The PLAN includes customer expectations, resource allocation, budget, problem-solving, and transparency. David says that once the project is assessed (SCAN) the following needs to be communicated early and often to keep EXECUTION on track.

Habits of Successful Project Managers

​David Watt's shared the following:

• Set the expectations and goals with the client. You should verbally walk them through the life cycle of the project and follow that up with a written recap.
• As you assemble the resources that will be utilized for the project, you will continue to track and coordinate your resources throughout the duration of the project.
• Set a reserve so that you understand your budget in a manner that you can communicate with your client and your production team. 
• It is important to establish regular communication. I recommend daily communication on the progress of the project. If there are any complications or changes to the scope, it is important to communicate these before the customer discovers them. The key is to communicate so that you are ahead of the distribution of the information, even if something negative or unexpected has occurred. No one likes surprises. 
• Open the lines of communications with all parties to keep everything transparent. This process should be consistent with all clients including homeowners, building managers, property managers, resident managers, brokers, adjusters, consultants, and anyone else tied to the project. 

Early Reviews for This New Project Management Book

“I like what I saw from the mediocre book. Jon puts into words things veterans of the industry should know and shortens the learning of those new to the industry. Most of us learn by on the job training with some guidance. His books provide guidance for those willing to take the next steps at raising their knowledge.” - David Watts (New York, NY)