The unwitting informal project manager

Are you an unwitting project manager? 

Are you managing projects without the title of project manager?

You may be an informal project manager. Even if you have a completely different job description but you have to manage a project to achieve a specific goal, you may also be considered an informal project manager. In many organizations, employees may be assigned to manage a project in addition to their regular job duties because of their expertise, knowledge, or experience in a particular subject area. This is especially common in smaller organizations where resources are limited and employees are expected to wear multiple hats.

Even if the project is not called a “project,” but it has defined goals and requires planning, organizing, and controlling resources to achieve those goals, it can be considered a project. In this case, the individual responsible for managing the project may be considered an informal project manager.

While its great to be entrusted with a project for your subject-matter expertise, and being an informal project manager can be a rewarding experience, it can also be challenging, as you may not have the same level of authority or recognition as a formal project manager. Most critically, you may also lack the training and knowledge needed to manage projects effectively. More specialized project management education may now be necessary.

Can You Relate to These Experiences?

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed or disorganized, struggled to meet deadlines, or found it challenging to manage your workload effectively, you’re not alone. Many people, including professionals and project managers, face these challenges regularly. Here are some questions to help you reflect on your own experiences and identify areas where you might need to improve your project management skills. Answering “yes” to some of these questions can be a starting point for developing strategies to overcome these challenges and become a more effective project manager.

• Do you ever feel overwhelmed by your workload, or by too many details or too much information? 
• Do you have trouble meeting deadlines and completing a task on time?
• Have you ever felt unorganized? Have you ever misplaced an important document or item?
• Do you find yourself taking on more work than you can handle because you don’t trust that delegating it will get it done?
• Or have you ever delegated a task, only to find that it was done wrong or not done at all?
• Have you ever had difficulty prioritizing tasks? 
• Have you ever felt like you were not managing your time as effectively as you could?
• Do you have trouble setting timelines and deadlines? 
• Do you have difficulty setting and staying within a budget?
• Do you have projects that seem to linger on and on, never finishing?
• Have you ever had difficulty motivating your team to meet a goal, or a hard time getting getting team members to take initiative, to collaborate and stay focused?
• Have you ever been surprised by a change in plans due to a lack of communication?
• Do you face resistance to a new idea or initiative?
• Do you dread those difficult conversations with team members who are not performing?
• Do you ever wonder if you’re even doing a good job because you don’t get enough feedback?

Perhaps you’ve faced challenges in the past such as missed deadlines, scope creep, or a lack of team alignment. These issues can be frustrating, time-consuming, and costly. But the good news is that many of these common problems and pitfalls can be avoided, while you improve the outcomes of your project by applying professional project management practices.

If you find yourself in this situation, it is important to take the initiative now to develop your project management skills and knowledge. This can include reading books and articles on project management, attending training courses or workshops, seeking out a mentor or coach who is experienced in project management, or even pursuing formal certification in project management.

By learning the principles of professional project management, you’ll gain the tools and knowledge necessary to effectively plan, execute, and control your projects. You’ll be able to identify risks early on, manage scope effectively, and keep your project team aligned and working collaboratively towards a common goal. Learning these skills will not only improve your project outcomes but also position you as a skilled and valuable asset in any team or organization. In other words, learning professional project management is essential for individuals who want to lead successful projects and avoid the problems that come with informal project management.

By investing in your project management skills and knowledge, you can increase your effectiveness and demonstrate your value to your organization. This can also help you to build your career and open up new opportunities in project management or other areas of your organization. The benefits will be worth the effort!