Anyone that is a parent knows that there's nothing like a baby monitor next to the crib to keep you tuned in to how their precious newborn is doing. Well, most project managers feel a similar way when it comes to managing their projects. There is a parental instinct that kicks in that makes them want to make sure their newborn project is doing just fine. How can this be done? Below are 5 ways that you can learn: How to Monitor Your Projects There are multiple ways to monitor your projects. There is no right or wrong method, nor one that works better than the next. It is up to you as the project manager to understand the nuances of your project, team, and environment and choose the one that works best for you. Method One: Remote Control
The first way to monitor your projects is by means of remote control. This means that you are getting a sense of what is occurring on your project by reviewing the project plan, using email, or picking up the phone and calling a team member every now and then. The remote control method doesn't incorporate much face-to-face time with the team and much of the time spent on managing the project is from behind the desk and using a computer. This method works well if it is a small project or one that is not mission critical. This would be a perfect method to use if you volunteered to help a peer or colleague out. This falls into the category of having some project management expertise on a project is better than none at all. Method Two: In Their Face
The "in their face" method is on the opposite side of the spectrum of the remote control method. This is when you are side by side with the team and immersed in every detail and providing ongoing and incessant direction. You are able to monitor the project very effectively this way because you intimately know every aspect and detail about the project. Some may call this micro-managing...and they're right. But, there is a place for micro-managing in some cases. This method works well if there is brand new team of junior people that have not been through many successful projects. They will appreciate the hands-on monitoring, approach, and real-time feedback as they come up to speed on the current project. Method Three: Can't We All Just Get Along?
The third method to monitoring your project is much more collaborative in nature than the first two. This method involves regular meetings, updates, and other forms of real-time communication that keeps the team moving forward. This is where the agile method of project management comes into play where there is more a group of peers working on completing a project rather than a top-down hierarchical approach. This is a great method to monitor the project if you are working with a team of experts that are moving into unknown or uncharted territory. It's good to work collaboratively and keep up with what is going on with the status of the project. Method Four: The Assumptive Close
The fourth method you can use to monitor your projects is the assumptive close. An assumptive close is when a sales person takes you down the path of buying something with the assumption that you are going to buy whatever it is they are selling. For example, they would ask "do you want this item in red or white", rather than "do you want this item?" This is a great method to use when you work with busy professionals. Rather than say "did you do this?"...which can come across as condescending, you would say "how did this turn out?" This allows you to monitor the project while giving everyone the benefit of the doubt. You assume that the deliverable is complete and it's up to them to tell you otherwise. Method Five: Auto-Pilot
Auto-pilot is just that...automatic pilot. This is when you sit in the cockpit, get the plane off the ground, and then turn it over to auto-pilot to take it the rest of the way. This allows the pilot to sit back and enjoy the ride himself, as long as the flight is going well. This method of monitoring projects works extremely well for projects that meet the following criteria: 1) It is a seasoned and experienced group of people that have been working together for a long time and, 2) the project is something that has been done time and time again. The risk to this method is that you better be prepared to jump in and handle things if the going gets rough. There is no right or wrong way of monitoring projects. It is up to you as the project manager to determine what is going to work best for you and your team. You may find that you start with one method (in their face, for example) and that it may easily transition over to a "why can't we all just get along" approach. One thing that is necessary in any of the methods above is some amount of collaboration and sharing of information. ProjectManager.com allows this to happen through its familiar interface and plentiful storage for all of your online documents. Find out More or Take a Free Trial. | 
