WTF is … Project Management?

Project management — it’s fun, it’s sexy, and everyone’s talking about it!

Okay … so it’s not really THAT fun for some of us. And you know what, everyone finds different things sexy, so that one’s hard to judge … however everyone IS talking about it.

To start — what even IS project management? Is it one of those new and trendy buzzwords that’s here today, gone tomorrow (like ‘uplevel’. That’s definitely not proper English). Sometimes it can be hard to keep up with the latest lingo and info, but let me just say — this one is here to stay, so let’s learn a little about it.

To define project management, we first need to define a project. A project is a unique and temporary task that will normally result in a new product or service. This is something that is different from the businesses’ norm, and is usually aligned with a vision or goal.

Project management is, simply, the planning, organizing, supervising, implementation and evaluation of a project. In traditional business organizations, a project manager will be the one who oversees a project from start to finish. They will be involved every step of the way — normally at a supervisory level, while others work to complete the task. They are there to keep things organized, have everything planned out, and to be one step ahead of the curve so that the project IDEALLY runs smoothly, and finishes on time and under budget. Sounds like a dream right?

While this may seem like a new concept, project managers have always been around, but have usually worn several other hats simultaneously. A project manager of the past was maybe also the accountant, or the supervisor, or the foreman. Now, it makes sense that with the amount of detail that companies go into in every other aspect oft heir business, that the project manager is a distinct person who can ensure things are done accurately and efficiently. The job class of project managers is expected to increase 33% through to 2027 according to the Project Management Institute, so you can be rest assured that this is not just a passing trend.

Now that we’re all on the same page, you can completely understand why large, multi-million dollar companies with major capital projects would need a project manager to keep them organized. But how would you, a small business owner, benefit from a project manager?! We at Ivy are all about sustainability of your business and yourself, as well as outsourcing tasks that you don’t have expertise in and don’t want to do. Here’s what we think:

Let’s think a little outside the box. Project managers can manage the construction of a $5 million dollar research building, but that’s just one end of the spectrum. Project managers can also manage ANY temporary and unique project, ESPECIALLY when these are linked to your strategic plan or goals. When you are an entrepreneur, you are already juggling every other aspect of your business and also the day-to-day operations of even running a business — sometimes the idea of rolling out a new product, or implementing a new service can seem totally laughable. This is where a freelance project manager can come in. You can hire someone on a project-basis, who has the skills and expertise to dive right into managing your project. Similarly to how you would contact your accountant during tax time (shout out accountants), you can hire freelance project management professionals in a similar fashion. A project manager can really help to bring your vision and goals to life, all while you are still successfully running and managing your own business.

Here’s the hard sell — we know that we’re preaching to people who sometimes don’t even walk in the church door. Entrepreneurs and small business owners are go-getters — they’re the people who will watch a YouTube video or Google something to teach it to themselves, and then just do the damn thing. We know you, we bow down to you. But hear us out: in order to run a business sustainably — and this means steady, continuous and reliable growth, without crashing and without burnout, it’s okay to ask for help, to outsource tasks and to do the things that you do best. Just because you make the most incredible baklava this side of the Atlantic, does NOT mean you should be responsible for managing the renovation of your restaurant’s customer bathroom. Knowing what you’re good at and doing what you love will keep your passion fire alive, and outsourcing what you don’t love, don’t know how to do or don’t want to do will ensure that you aren’t burning the candle at both ends. Outsourcing saves lives.

What are other benefits of hiring a project manager?

• Cost and time savings
• Efficient project completion
• Saves you unnecessary work
• Your peace of mind

Okay, you’re in! Now how do you find and hire a freelance project manager that you can trust? Here are some questions that you can ask when you meet your potential new PM:

• What education or professional certifications do you hold?
• Look for certificates in project management, PMP (project management professional) certification, or Masters in Business Administration (MBA) degree
• Ask about their communication style — does it align with yours?
• Ask about previous projects that they’re completed — are they similar to the project that you want completed?
• Ask about their leadership style

Perfect, so now you know exactly what to do! Best of luck and happy hunting.

Do you know that we provide project management services? Contact us to see if we’re a good fit!