Digital Project Mangers: The Unsung Heroes of Healthy Teams & Successful Projects
By Crystal Vitelli
The work we produce is usually categorized
as a “project”.
Clients come to us when they have a
“project”.
“Projects” are a group of people working towards an agreed upon outcome.
Someone is managing your projects …
Maybe it’s multiple people throughout the life cycle of the project?
Maybe it’s the “most organized”
person in your office?
Maybe it’s you?
Someone is managing your projects …
is it the right person?
Source: Interactive Project Management: Pixels, People, and Process
What Does a Good Digital Project Manger Look Like ?
They keep you healthy
DPM
Moving the Launch Date
They enact change
Spec Document
Put a Sig on It
Monthly Strategy Meetings
They are emotionally intelligent
Emotional intelligence is the ability to perceive, control
and evaluate emotions
Emotional intelligence is the ability to see and understand
the “unsaid”
Me: “Assuming we will not be having our meeting Monday Jan 23”
My Client’s Response via Basecamp
EmpathyIntuitionInstinct } Emotional Intelligence
They are skilled interpreters
They are diplomatic and kind
They are brave
They know what you don’t about how to get it done
They know enough about all core disciplines to be relevant
“Hey, I just need you to add an ‘s’ to the HTTP” – a well intentioned PM
They have Mama Bear Syndrome
The Client is not your enemy
They tell you what’s broken and help you fix it
A Few More: Tey are leaders
Tey are problem solvers
Tey are strategic thinkers
Tey take the heat and give away the
glory
When does it makes sense to hire a digital project manager?
When to hire?You hate running projects
You want to tackle larger scale projects
Client demands are too grand
You want quality improvements
Someone’s managing your projects… maybe it’s time that person was a digital project manager.
Questions?49
