Important Roles of a Project Manager

Manages to Project Priorities; Performs Risk Management. The project manager understands that the No. 1 problem on all projects is that the most important problems are not being worked to a swift closure; therefore, most of the project manager's time each day is dedicated to addressing the project's top three-to-five priorities.

Communicates Project Status Upward and to the Client. No significant project status leaves the boundaries of the project without project manager approval.

Drives Decision-Making to Lowest Level Possible. The project manager drives ownership of decisions to the level where the accountability of the decision must lie. A key result is that project members, with proper training and coaching, will almost always rise to the expectations placed on them.

Promotes Client Involvement. The project manager recognizes that project success is directly related to satisfying the client; therefore, client involvement is essential to ensure that the right product is built.

Encourages and Supports Escalations. The project manager establishes a project culture where escalations to resolve “stagnant” problems are viewed as good business and not viewed as being personal.

Enforces Effective Change Control. The project manager ensures that scope creep, communications, and quality are carefully managed.

Mentors Project Members. The project manager is a teacher and a helper.

Promotes Good Working Relationships. The project manager serves as a role model in promoting good working relationships across a project.

Makes Things Happen. You don't have to be the smartest, most knowledgeable person on the project to be the project manager. You do, however, have to have the knowledge, skills and experience to be able to recognize when problems surface or potential problems are looming. You must be able to articulate those problems, bring the right people together to solve those problems and know when the problem has been properly addressed and closed—all this with the proper sense of urgency that the problem requires.