TEPM 021: How Effective Project Management Strategies Can Help You to Stay on Track and Deliver Results

In this episode, I talk with Viswanathan Raju, PgMP, PMP, LSSBB, a seasoned project management professional, who shares some invaluable insights on effective project management. We explore the core components of effective project management strategies, ranging from communication and coordination with stakeholders to managing project constraints and achieving success within budget and timelines. ***The video version of this episode can be viewed here.*** Engineering Quotes: Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Viswanathan: Why is change management important and what challenges does it pose in engineering projects? Could you provide an example of how you effectively navigated project constraints to achieve successful outcomes? How do you integrate lessons learned from past projects into your current project management approach? What are the essential qualities and skills you believe are necessary for effective project leadership? How do your program management professional and project management professional certifications enhance your ability to effectively manage complex projects and programs? What advice would you give to aspiring project managers? Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About How Effective Project Management Strategies Can Help You to Stay on Track and Deliver Results: Change management is vital in project management, but it can be challenging as people resist change due to their established routines and mindset. As a change leader, it is crucial to engage stakeholders, explain the benefits, and demonstrate successful past changes to encourage acceptance and adaptation to change. Navigating project constraints, such as tight schedules in shutdown projects, requires careful planning, collaboration with stakeholders, and leveraging contingencies to ensure successful outcomes within the defined scope and time frame. Incorporating lessons learned is a crucial aspect of forming effective project management strategies. A lessons-learned repository is maintained to capture valuable insights from previous projects, while a lessons-learned register is created for ongoing or upcoming projects. The integration of lessons learned throughout the project life cycle, from initiation to stakeholder engagement in kickoff meetings and project completion, helps in avoiding past mistakes and maximizing improvement opportunities. Effective project leadership entails qualities such as stakeholder engagement, collaboration, understanding the human side of project management, communication, active listening, empathy, and adaptability to uncertainty. It goes beyond technical skills and emphasizes excellence over perfection. Obtaining the PgMP and PMP certifications enhances project managers' ability to effectively manage complex projects and programs. These certifications provide a structured approach, enabling the application of concepts like stakeholder engagement, lessons learned, collaboration, and effective leadership with empathy. The acquired knowledge and skills lead to increased project success rates and the ability to deliver greater value to organizations and clients. Aspiring project managers should study project management concepts and actively apply them in real-world scenarios, focusing on emotional intelligence, adapting to technological changes, and embracing principle-based approaches. More Details in This Episode… About Viswanathan Raju, PgMP, PMP, LSSBB Viswanathan Raju, PgMP®, PMP®, LSSBB, is an experienced engineer with 20 years of multicultural expertise in manufacturing engineering, project management, and change management. As a problem-solver, he enjoys taking ownership of complex issues and helping others develop a growth mindset and lifestyle. Now,