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Project Management is the process of leading a team to achieve all the goals set forth in a project. A project manager plans, oversees, and delivers on a project.
The project manager handles everything involved and ultimately, is responsible for the success or failure. Planning, overseeing, and delivering sound like straightforward job tasks, however, the role of a project manager is not only complex, it’s vital to ensuring the project’s success, especially in the recovery audit industry. It requires someone who is approachable and friendly but firm and professional when the circumstances call for it, organized but adaptable when unexpected challenges arise, and overall someone who conveys trustworthiness and reliability. It takes someone who can grasp complex ideas but also explains them in a digestible way. The real question isn’t “what does a project manager do?” — it’s “what doesn’t a project manager do?”
Leading a project team and managing project deliverables requires a variety of skills. There is evidence to suggest that communication is the number one skill required for a great project manager. Setting expectations and maintaining an open dialog with all team members throughout the project is imperative. According to the Project Management Institute (PMI), 90% of a project manager’s role focuses on communication-related activities.
Research among project managers indicates that active listening, non-verbal communication, friendliness, trust, respect, open-mindedness, feedback, and collaboration are the top communication skills for leading project teams.
Without a project manager, a team is like a ship without a rudder, moving without direction, control, or purpose. Leadership allows and enables the team to do their best work. Project managers provide leadership, vision, motivation, and remove roadblocks so the project flows smoothly.
Enthusiasm is an important attribute of an effective project manager. It not only shows the team that they believe in the project, but it also conveys their confidence in the team’s ability to successfully complete the project. An enthusiastic project manager can also help keep team members motivated and in a positive state of mind.
The project manager is responsible for aligning the stakeholders, setting expectations, and defining the scope.
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“A good project manager is personable, methodical, tidy, and can even be described as obsessive in the organization skills.”
Project managers encounter issues on a daily basis. Although every team tries to capture all risks and prepare for them, there will always be unexpected problems. The role of the project managers isn’t to always have the answer, instead, they must have the ability to analyze, rethink, change, and develop new ways and ideas to solve the problem.
It is important for a project manager to possess good negotiation skills. The ability to resolve conflicts and maintain harmony are pivotal in creating a successful team. While each member needs to feel valued, they also must learn to work together with a respectful give-and-take approach.
Good project management delivers consistent results, reduced costs, increased efficiencies, and improved customer and stakeholder satisfaction. And more importantly, a strong, organization-wide commitment to project management yields long-term business value.
Perhaps the biggest benefit of good project management is a better client experience. When you complete any project on time and as expected, the customer will not only walk away happy, but they will return for future projects as well as refer their fellow industry colleagues and partners.Â
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Project managers are an essential part of any successful business, regardless of the industry, but they are especially vital in the role they play during a recovery audit process. The best project managers maintain excellent client relations while exceeding expectations to deliver projects on time. At Illumis, we take pride in offering our clients a world-class recovery audit experience that gives clarity and value to lost profits.
Working for Illumis for 21 years, Brush has been instrumental in the growth of the company. Brush served as Vice President at Illumis before stepping into the role of President / CEO and has been involved in all aspects of the company’s business throughout his career.
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Brush’s approach to his role centers on the motto of Illumis, Bright Ideas for Better Profits. Known for his loyalty, team building, and tough but fair expectations, he empowers employees to deliver, therefore fostering a company culture that ensures customers can count on people.