Since March 2020 it seems the goal posts change regularly in both our work and home environments. For many of us, our commute has gone from 30 minutes to 30 seconds, our meetings have gone from face-to-face to Face Time, and our target tracking has gone from relatively linear, to an erratic, or at best undulating, line of progress. Many of us have been hanging on for a ‘return to normal’ but it appears these new conditions will endure.
So how do we move forward? And is there a right way? From expectations around a ‘new normal’, to forging a path to the ‘next normal’, resolve and resilience are key for leaders as the long process of social and economic restructuring begins in a way we haven’t seen since the end of WWII.
The challenge ahead for PMs
It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the thought of such a seismic change, but what does it mean for people on the ground, project managing the build of a school or the delivery of a new finance system? We have identified three key challenges for Project Managers in 2022, and how to deal with them.
Scope creep
This is a term all PM’s will be familiar with, but now project managers are having to deal with the scope creep of their own role. As the way we work continues to flex, project managers are being asked to take on new aspects of project delivery that may not even have existed before.
Not only do PMs need to continue to build on those interpersonal and communication skills to keep everyone on track as project parameters fly around the compass points, but they also need to offer additional skills such as risk assessments relating to pandemic restrictions, or IT support to enable remote workers to stay engaged. IMNZ’s Think on your Feet course could be the refresh you need for clear communication.
Supply chain
The Suez Canal disaster was the catalyst for supply chain upheaval – but the global supply ecosystem was hanging by a thread already. Whether you are project managing supply chain logistics, or your project is at the mercy of them, understanding the change in pinch points, the effect of rising costs and how to utilise alternative supply routes is essential. It doesn’t just make your job easier, but gives you the chance to offer clients enhanced customer service. IMNZ’s Project Management Fundamentals course is a great way to update these skills.
Social cohesion
As the way we work continues to become more fragmented, keeping your team aligned and connected is even more important. Project managers need to see stakeholders as human beings, and support wellbeing and team work, not just meeting KPI’s. There are several ways project managers can do this, such as encouraging team members to use real backgrounds on Zoom so we can see the reality of others’ lives or use a tool like Slack to have conversations about non-work related topics – the gossip we all miss. IMNZ’s courses can help build real world interaction skills in the virtual workplace.
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