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