How to excel as a remote Project Manager

Building trust

The first, arguably most important step in any management role is to build rapport with your team and use your interpersonal skills to create trust between you and your colleagues. If you’re starting a remote role, it’s a good idea to spend the first few days or weeks in the office so that you can get to know the people you’ll be working with. This doesn’t necessarily need to be limited to a professional capacity. Getting to know your colleagues’ personalities and what they do outside of work can mean you’re able to form a stronger bond with them, which will make working relationships easier and more productive in the long run. Check out this article by Business Marketing Engine for tips on getting to know your colleagues.

Keep in touch

Naturally, if you’re in a remote role, you’ll be having regular project meetings on Teams or Zoom. However, it’s important to take the time to schedule regular 1-1s or check-ins with those people you’ll be closely working with. People may find it daunting to raise issues in team meetings, so scheduling the more personal, less formal meetings will give colleagues a chance to raise things with you that you may be able to resolve to increase productivity and morale. Try to practise and maintain empathy and emotional intelligence so that your colleagues know you’re someone they can speak to about things that are bothering them. Without communication skills, you’ll be hard pushed to ensure your colleagues are being productive.

Tools

Investing in a PM tool such as Asana or Trello is a great way to assign tasks with a clear structure and stay aware of how certain parts of the project are coming along. By monitoring this, you’ll be able to see where you are within the project plan and investigate any bottlenecks. However, it’s important for the trust aspect of project management that you respect your team’s autonomy to work on their assignments and avoid ‘micromanaging’. This article by HR Dive suggests that almost half of people surveyed would leave a role if they felt they were being micromanaged. It’s worth researching your management style and paying attention to your team’s likes and dislikes in order to retain your colleagues and their engagement.

Be clear with your team

If you’re managing people, it can be hard to let them get on with their own thing and be sure that they’ll get the job done efficiently. The only real way to navigate this is by giving very clear instructions, suited to their unique way of learning. Some colleagues may receive instructions verbally, while others may need things written down. It’s up to you to learn about these idiosyncrasies to enable proper management. The same sentiment goes for feedback. If your colleague has executed something particularly well, tell them. Equally, if there’s room for improvement, tell them. Be straightforward and clear about what you need from them to avoid any difficulties in the process of the project.

Prioritise your own work-life balance

When you’re working remotely, it’s easy to fall into the habit of checking emails as soon as you wake up and starting work while still in your PJs. Equally, the blurred boundaries between work and home can make it tempting to keep working late into the evening. However, this approach can be harmful, leading to burnout and setting an unhealthy precedent for colleagues, potentially impacting their mental health too.

To keep your balance, take steps to separate work from home life. If you’ve got space, designate a workspace outside your bedroom to create a clear boundary. Additionally, try to disconnect from work by turning off notifications for work-related messages during evenings and weekends, unless it’s absolutely necessary.

If you’re starting a career in project management and you’re not quite sure how to navigate the industry, browse through our resources for tips and advice. Watch Adbul’s story on how Learning People helped him to land a role and thrive in project management.