Trolling around the Droga5 website, in the "Stuff" section. I found, "I Want to Marry a
Producer" by Ted Royer, Droga5's Executive Creative Director. It's one of the funniest, most endearing (and somewhat creepy) things I've read recently. He discusses various intra-agency marital options: account person, client, even another creative but dismisses them all for a producer. I don't know Ted personally (not entirely sure I'd like to - I certainly wouldn't want to get too close) but he has a body of work that puts him in high-regard in the industry and, in my book, his romantic side adds to his rep.I always appreciate it when PM's and Producers are recognized for the important roles they play. Unfortunately, recognition of PM contributions isn't the norm. If you haven't read my post Project Management Success - Where's the Evidence?!, which features a clip of Dustin Hoffman, playing Stanley Motts, the self-absorbed producer in Wag the Dog, give it a try. Hoffman delivers a hilarious set of tirades about producers and recognition.
Posts
Freaky! Even though they bitch and moan, the best Creative Directors have a good appreciation for PM's.
ReplyDelete
DeleteTag: PM201A53. Let me share all of you about #5 Tips for Project Management Success,, I hope you enjoy it
1. Plan your day using time management techniques
As a project manager, time management skills are essential because you are dealing with a wide range of tasks that demand a quick turnaround time. Planning your day will go a long way in keeping you organized and increasing your productivity. Assist your task planning by using project management software which helps you track the work of you and your team.
If you are not very tech savvy, a simple to-do list can also be a great organizational tool. Prioritize your most important tasks by putting them at the top of the list and less important ones at the bottom. Having a visual plan of your daily tasks helps to keep you on track and aware of time.
Related post: Free ebook 104 secrets to become a great project manager
2. Include stakeholders in important project conversations
While you will have plenty of responsibilities regarding the project, don’t neglect your clients.
Good communication is essential is keeping both parties informed of project progression, curtailing scope creep, and apprised of changing requirements. Some clients may have different expectations when it comes to communication, so make sure to establish the frequency and type of communication (like emails, phone calls, and face-to-face conversations) at the beginning of your project.
Establishing communication expectations early helps alleviate stakeholder uncertainty about communication frequency and delivery.
3. Regularly communicate with your team
Daily team communication helps keep misunderstandings and unclear requirements under control. Keeping your team informed in every step of the project is essential to project management success.
For example, a study published by Procedia Technology found that good communication skills were the cornerstone of project management. The study examined over 300 “construction project managers, architects, construction managers, engineers and quantity surveyors” and their successes and failures on various construction projects.
4. Anticipate project setbacks
Even the best-laid plans often go awry.
Remember that even with a high amount of planning and attention to detail, your project may still encounter some challenges. Pay attention to complaints from stakeholders or colleagues, and other warning signs, like a missed deadline or cost overrun, that there may be a problem.
Preventing a crisis will keep your project running smoothly, save you a lot of time, and keep you, your team, and your stakeholders confident in progressing with the project.
Unfortunately not every complication can be avoided. Crisis management skills are essential for dealing with the unexpected. Project managers need to be flexible and pragmatic. Improvise and make sharp decisions when needed.
Related post: 92 free project management templates
5. Stay focused on the details
A common problem project managers encounter is having the project aims not aligned with the organization’s objectives. A great project manager will strategize a plan for the project to lead back to the overall success of the business.
Know your project’s scope by heart and avoid wandering outside of the project’s requirements. It’s too easy to get lost in minor details and forget what your focus is, so a well-planned project scope is essential for success.
And final, you should use KPI to measure effectiveness of the project, here are full list: 76 project management KPIs
ha yea, a project without a good pm/producer is a daymare.
ReplyDeleteTrue. I started an agency over a year ago. I used to be the lead developer at a recognizable, large agency. At the time PM's were pretty much just a pain in the ass. Without them, I could not run my business. Actually, I probably could, but I would have to stay at the office all day rather than visit clients go on sales calls, etc. So, general apology to those I misunderstood or worse. Sorry.
ReplyDeleteInteresting, considering almost all of the interactive producers at that agency have left.
ReplyDeleteI think what's interesting here, and I've seen this at allot of other agencies, is the lack of respect between departments. He writes an interesting love letters to PMs, but completely disrespects every other department.
ReplyDeleteAnd this seems to be normal at other agencies, where account doesn't get along with Creative, Creative doesn't get along with developers, and so forth and so forth. What I've found is that its a general lack of understanding for each departments role in the organization.
And guess who is usually stuck in the middle, Project Managers. The ones who have to be the facilitators of communication and the calming presence in the Agency.
THis reminds me of one story, where I was a PM at very respectable Agency/Marketing firm. THe relationship between Marketing and Creative became so toxic, that the PMs literally became "runners" between the two groups carrying messages. The two heads of the group would not meet in the same room to discuss the client issue at hand, so I, as a pretty junior PM at the time, had to run between the VPs delivering messages, and ultimately augmenting (translating) the message between the two groups for the good of solving the client's issue.
So while I appreciate his love letter to Producers, I think it shows a larger issue at Agencies, one that has the PMs stuck right in the middle. And I think perhaps, PMs are under appreciated because the problem the biggest roadblock they run into is a much deeper and more fundamental problem at Agencies that its ultimate solution is a cultural shift, not a fleet of PMs.
So in response to this ECD's letter, I think its great he has a new found appreciation for PMs, but he has also just potential pissed off all the other departments. And those PMs at that agency will now have to deal with the other departments who are offended by this letter.
Thanks for your thoughtful comment. I feel your pain. The adversarial relationships between depts or the fallout to other depts in creative-led or account-led agencies are often their undoing - or at least at the root of their retention issues.
ReplyDeleteI've done my best, from that middle position you reference that PM's often stuck, to work as a force to align stakeholders.
Still, I think Ted's a hoot and would rather leverage is "affection" from that no man's land in the middle than have to combat the common lack of appreciation and understanding of what a PM/Producer does.
Hi, this is Ted Royer. Thanks for all the thoughtful comments. Just wanted to say that this piece was originally written for Boards Magazine, a magazine for producers. So, while I do dis other departments, it was only done in the spirit of showing my appreciation for producers and to help bring the metaphor to life. T
ReplyDeleteI think Ted stays in the good-guy column
ReplyDeleteAgreed.
ReplyDeleteNICE CONTENT
ReplyDeleteVERY INTERESTING
GREAT WORK
Project Management
Extraordinary post! I am really preparing to over this data, It's exceptionally useful for this blog.Also incredible with the majority of the significant data you have Keep up the great work you are progressing admirably. I am also writing blogs on project management
ReplyDelete& PMP certification.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteTake advantage of the AI Patasala's training program that focuses on "Python training at Hyderabad" and builds up your understanding of Python.
ReplyDeletePython Course with Placements Hyderabad