Why You Should Hire a Project Manager

Woo-hoo! Congratulations. You did it. You convinced your CEO/boss/manager to move forward with that next big project.  You’re excited. Giddy, even.
 
Once the adrenaline level drops, however, reality hits. You need to make it happen.
 
It’s true: you may be able to complete the project on your own. You may have the skills, experience, and time to devote to a new initiative or event.
 
If you don’t, however, it may be time to hire a project manager.
 
Hiring a project manager may feel extravagant or luxurious. But, like any investment, it makes sense to bring in someone who has the experience and professional skills to make sure your project succeeds.
 
Kayla Gefroh, owner of Purpose Learning Group in Fargo, describes it this way:
 
Imagine you’ve scheduled a trip to Spain and find out that a close friend lived there for several years. Now, imagine that you invite him/her along on your trip and they agree to take over the planning.
 
You give them a budget, the dates of the trip, and other important details. Your friend, having lived there previously, has a great sense of how far the budget will go. He or she tells you which airport is best to fly into and whether public transportation is reliable. Your friend suggests hotels and identifies the must-see sites.
 
Now, the time has come for your trip. Your friend (who is now your tour guide) has planned each day. On the first day you expect to visit an incredible tourist attraction that is outside, but it’s pouring rain. Since your friend is a great guide, he/she has a “plan B” ready. In fact, he/she even expected that rain was likely on this day and suggested alternative activities the night before – just in case.
 
In addition, your friend speaks Spanish!
 
Indeed. A great project manager has been there, done that. She’ll have backup plans to mitigate any unforeseen risks and will pack an umbrella. She’ll help you stay within your budget.
 
Best of all, she speaks the language!
 
That’s one reason Brady Helland, a project manager with Sundt Construction in Tempe, Arizona, recommends hiring a project manager.
 
“Project managers often have a unique ability to speak the language of both an individual contributor and the client or stakeholder,” he says.
 
 This is an often unrecognizable and undervalued skill. “Take note of the collaboration and communication environment the next time you have a chance to work with a project manager,” he adds.  
 
After all, project managers are skilled at being honest, fair, and flexible with team members. They know how to listen well to the needs of a client while keeping the project within scope. These skills mean that project managers can communicate in ways that get all team members working together to accomplish the same goal. They can speak to the writer, the graphic designer, the software developer, the electrician.
 
Combine these abilities with a project manager’s ability to simplify complex projects, and you have a winning combination – or more importantly, a solid plan for completing your project.
 
Even better: when projects hit obstacles or something doesn’t go quite as smoothly as planned, Brady reminds us that effective project managers have already identified possible risks (or rain on the plains on your trip to Spain). He or she is ready with possible solutions (and umbrellas!) for you to review and consider.
 
At Reach Partners, we are grateful for Kayla’s and Brady’s perspectives and their willingness to share.

We believe in the power of good project management. It doesn’t matter if your project is in IT, communications, construction, or an event. Every project benefits from having someone on the team who sees the big picture, someone who can effectively break it down for everyone else and keep an eye on the end goal.
 
Do you need a project manager? Contact us at Reach Partners and let’s talk!

-Rachel