PM-in-Training Guide

“It is vital for [PMs] to build strong relationships with project area residents and stakeholder organizations. By becoming involved in the community aspects of their projects, PMs can strengthen the reputation of their firms and increase cooperation from residents.”

and committed project team member. Inform him of things — in person, on the phone, and via e-mail — as you do every other team member. • Keep your promises — the only prom - ise that has any value to your client is the one you keep. As a municipal client recently told a group of engineers, “Do what you say you’re going to do, when you say you’re going to do it!” Most client contacts come through the PM; clients like to speak to the PM. Therefore, PMs must learn to listen to their clients and make it apparent that the client’s desires, knowledge, and opinions have value. Further, according to one marketing manager at a major international A/E firm, “In addition to managing the project staff, schedule, and budget, the PM is responsible for maintaining open communications with the client (contact initiated by the PM, rather than responding to the client as

— Hope Wilson, CPSM, principal, Wilson Business Growth Consultants

the specified point of contact); as well as providing leadership and guidance to the project team and responding to any human relations [issues].” After all, without your client, you have no project. In the end, your clients are like anyone else whose relationship you value — family, friends, mentors, et cetera. They need your active personal

attention for the relationship to grow and get stronger. If you don’t take proper care of your client, some other firm or consultant will. Despite all desires to the contrary, providing this active personal attention is probably the most impor- tant task a great PM performs.

Bernie Siben, CPSM, is principal consultant with The Siben Consult LLC (www.sibenconsult.com), an independent A/E marketing and strategic consultant located in Austin, Texas. He can be contacted at bernie@sibenconsult.com.

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