Every establishment or organization has a set of rules and directives that they are guided by. Similarly, myths exist in every industry, even in project management. When work gets overwhelming, it could be tempting to rely on those inaccurate sayings and impulses. Identifying these fallacies and addressing the difficulties they can cause is necessary for making sure projects are well executed based on best procedures rather than false information.
Here are 6 of the most frequently quoted project management myths that you should do away with:
Myth 1: The Customer is Always Right
When it comes to project management, customers (or clients) may not always be correct. A client might have some preferences about the details of their projects, but it might not provide tangible advantages for the business. Clients should always be listened to, but like any other person, they could have unrealistic expectations or make wrong choices, so it is crucial to guide them towards making the right decisions by conducting related research and carrying them along with relevant information on the project.
Myth 2: Prioritize Speed over Quality
Timeliness and punctuality are essential qualities in any business. It can make or break an agreement. With quite some unfinished projects and a deadline to meet, it can be pretty tempting to prioritize early submission over the quality of project work, but you should never compromise. A poorly done project leads to a poor user experience and undermines the project manager’s qualifications as well.
Myth 3: Always Avoid Conflicts
Most people usually try to avoid confrontation or conflicts but doing so does not solve the issue but temporarily cools it down only to get more aggravated. Disagreements are bound to happen when dealing with people and projects; the solution is to address them as soon as they come up, not to ignore them.
Myth 4: Project Management is an Endless Paper Trail
This perspective reflects the situation at the early stage of project management. Now, teamwork, productivity, and innovative techniques have modified project management away from such engagements as writing emails, documenting minutes, etc. Currently, project managers devote their efforts and time to communication, problem resolution, human management, creative thinking, and strategy formulation, all from the comfort of their e-notepad or diary.
Myth 5: It’s Best to Strictly Stick with the Plan
Success can be attained in the least expected, unconventional way. Strictly following a set of fashioned-out patterns could deny us the several potentials and possibilities in front of us. Be flexible and open to new ideas and modifications that could make you work considerably faster without reducing quality.
Myth 6: Frequent meetings are necessary for progress
Lengthy and unnecessary meetings can be counterproductive. It could leave team members feeling more anxious about the project and waste precious time that should have been channeled towards the project. To keep team members accountable and up to date, maximize project management tools like Smartsheet, Asana, etc. These help to delegate tasks effectively and to track each member’s progress.
