What You Need To Know To SLAY Remote Projects
Managing projects from the comfort of your own home may sound appealing, but it might not be all that it’s cracked up to be. There are challenges that come with working from home as a PM. If you arm yourself in advance with some solutions though, you’ll be better prepared to skillfully navigate whatever obstacles arise.
Challenge one: Technology hiccups
Internet cutting out, applications shutting down, your computer lagging – we’ve all experienced these kinds of frustrations, but when you’re managing the many pieces of a project, they can be especially challenging. After all, technology is what keeps you connected with your remote team.
You can’t avoid every tech hiccup, but a little advance preparation can go a long way:
- For important meetings, plug directly into your modem to avoid Wi-Fi connectivity issues
- Keep your computer and applications updated – Teams and Zoom in particular – so you aren’t delayed when joining scheduled meetings
- Regularly close your open tabs and power down your computer to give it a break
- Remind your team to take the same types of precautions
Challenge two: Collaboration
When you’re physically together in an office setting, collaboration happens organically. That’s not to say you can’t collaborate remotely, it just means you have to plan ahead to facilitate connection and interaction between team members. You can:
- Plan brainstorming sessions
- Prepare clear meeting agendas
- Use collaboration tools like virtual whiteboards
- Rely on breakout rooms and exercises that bring people together
I have a few more tips to share that will help you avoid the pitfalls of remote project management, so I put together a video that does a deep dive on the topic. Follow me over to YouTube for more solutions to the challenges of remote project management.
Whether you’re a remote, hybrid, or in-person project manager, if you want to lead every project to success, make sure you check out my SLAY Project Management course. It gives you all the templates, tips, and techniques you need to implement to SLAY your projects.
Adriana Girdler, PMP | Creator of Slay Project Management™
P.S. Check out what one of my students said recently about SLAY:
“My brain is not naturally wired to perform this type of structured activity, yet my job as a Product Manager demands these skills. The SLAY program helped me feel less intimidated and more empowered. AH
