Effective status meetings lead to successful projects. One of the most valuable tools you have as a project manager is a weekly project status meeting.
I approach any significant project by holding weekly project updates. These status meetings help:The new project members develop as a team.Me, as the project manager, identify weaknesses early enough to make corrections.Me, as the project manager, reinforce key points and provide early coaching.An astute project manager uses a status meeting to go beyond simply learning about how the project is progressing. A good project manager already knows that before the meeting. The meeting is actually a tool to help the project manager move the project along and coach team members on key issues that can affect deliverables. I’ve found success with several simple tools and approaches in my work as a consultant.
BSchool.com - Business Schools & Online MBA Degrees. Www.pmforum.org. Project Management Consulting, Project and Program Managers, Onsite Training, Research - PM Solutions. Project Initiation Documents - Project Management Tools from MindTools. Getting Your Project Off to a Great Start © iStockphoto/kzenon Have you ever been part of a project where not everyone has the same view of where the project is heading?
This lack of clarity can breed confusion: People start pulling in different directions, building up unrealistic expectations, and harboring unnecessary worries and fears. While it's normal as part of a project to put the detailed plans, controls and reporting mechanisms into place, how do you get everyone on the same page to start with? This is accomplished by creating a Project Initiation Document (PID) – the top-level project planning document. 21 Ways to Excel at Project Management.