One of the hardest things I had to do when first getting started with my business was getting organized. Not having an MBA, the first year of leading my startup was the most hectic as well as the biggest ego buster of my life. However, after startup life punched me in the face, I took a step back and realized the importance for me and every other founder to learn basic product management skills.
Today, I prioritize project management first, as that most directly affects deliverables — but most startup leaders still don’t understand the basic components of leading a product team. Do you?
It’s no secret that the life of project managers are intense — they essentially function as the CEO of their team, making sure that everything gets done at the right time in the right way. They are constantly checking in on team members, reminding stakeholders of requirements, managing crises and roadblocks, ensuring that everything is in place for next steps and fostering innovation among their reports.
However, even if you hire an experienced project manager, they can’t do everything. Here are the most common project management mistakes that startups make:
1. Picking project managers out of convenience, not skill or qualifications.
When your company is first getting started, it’s not uncommon for team members to “fall” into roles as is convenient, without any formal vetting process. While this may work initially, it’s important that as you scale, you ensure project managers understand the process and are able to command both respect and attention. Additionally, they should have personalities that lend themselves well to the stresses of this position — if they’re easily frazzled, frequently forget details or are uncomfortable talking to a variety of people, it won’t be a fit.
If you have a project manager who is struggling, but motivated to improve…