How to Improve Project Communication

Project managers should be skilled at mediation.

A project manager needs excellent communication and conflict resolution skills to lead a successful project. Conflicts and simmering resentments can derail a project and push out the schedule. It is important to create clear communication processes that are integrated into the project initiation, planning, execution and closing stages. Effective project communication should become habitual for managers, strategists and implementers. All the project shareholders should share responsibility for consistently implementing effective communication processes.

Instructions

1. Communicate the initial project proposal to all the stakeholders including planners, implementers and the different levels of management supporting the project.

2. Integrate structured communication processes such as scheduled status, team and communication meetings into all the stages of the project including initiation, planning, implementation and closing.

3. Report the outcomes of all the scheduled meetings in project progress reports. Flag any issues that need to be addressed to the appropriate levels of management as they occur.

4. Ask participants for feedback on the project at the end of every team meeting. Resolve any immediate issues during the meeting or shortly after the meeting has concluded.

5. Conduct a project post-mortem meeting at the close of the project. Ask project participants for feedback on how project communication could have been improved during the project. Implement effective suggestions for the next project.

Tips & Warnings

• Listen to everyone's point of view in a conflict situation.

• Adapt your communication processes to the project. Avoid being rigid in the way you handle situations.

References

• "Journal of Management in Engineering": Project Management Process Maturity PM2 Model

Resources

• University of Wisconsin-Madison: Conflict Resolution