I’ve been a real estate project manager for several years and love my job. It often has defined me. So when a colleague asked me the other day what defines a project manager, I stumbled. After being on maternity leave for 10 months, I thought this would be a perfect time to shake off the rattles and rubber duckies, and re-focus on what makes a successful project manager.

Everyone manages projects – whether they are at work, school or for personal reasons. Simply put, a successfully managed project is one that is completed by meeting its goals and quality objectives, on or before the deadline and within budget. How is this done? Here are a project manager’s five requirements:

1. Defining and structuring the project

Defining the project allows us to first give life to it. It’s an exciting stage which brings together the skills, talents and efforts of a team of people who all participate and agree to a vision, which is then carried out until the project’s completion. MAC has trademarked a process called “ESP” (envisioning, strategizing, planning) which we have talked about previously on this blog.

2. Careful scheduling

Creating a master schedule requires a great deal of attention as it guides an entire team through a sequence of steps. Understanding the duration of each step, the earliest (or latest) time at which a step may be started and how each step impacts another, makes scheduling a very critical resource. In fact, it’s sometimes referred to as a “critical path.” Other names include a work-back schedule, Gantt chart or simply, a timeline.

3. Adequate resources

Adequate resources refer to both people and money, and are often directly linked to the assertiveness of the timeline and the quality of the program. Every project costs money, but reducing the waste of time and money can be achieved by evaluation, research and feedback.

4. Continual measurement

Continual measurement and re-assessment of goals, timelines, resources and effectiveness is necessary for any project. Over the course of a project, any of these may change (and often do) due to internal or external factors. An effective project manager has a responsibility to make sure team members are aware of changes to the original plan. A final evaluation after the project’s completion is very helpful, particularly when the process may be repeated in the future.

5. On-going clear communication

And my favourite part of project management: communication skills. They touch every aspect of project management. A project manager must know how to communicate effectively with clients, consultants and colleagues and lead everyone into a smooth, functioning team. In fact, listening, problem solving, sharing information at the appropriate time and managing expectations are all critical to every project.

Having a baby was a truly rewarding experience. I am proud to say that I am a project manager and a mom now. I look forward to working with my clients and teams again in order to bring the best product to market (homes people really want to live in and love) when I return to MAC shortly.

Grace Austin