As Project Managers how do we deal with the management – simple tips but surprisingly not followed by many of the best project managers.

  1. Ask what they want to know about the project and when—and then give it to them
  2. Check to make sure that management understands what you have sent them
  3. Never send a copy of the Gantt chart unless management knows exactly how it was created. Gantt charts are useful project management tools but turn non-team members off
  4. Be brief
  5. Be well prepared for each encounter
  6. Before meeting with management, think about what you would want to know if you were in their shoes and then provide it
  7. Make sure they hear it from you to avoid surprises
  8. Remember to communicate the results of meetings with management down to the project team and other stakeholders
  9. Link meetings to milestones
  10. Have standard project reports that are created based on management and project managers’ input
  11. Do not delay bad news
  12. Always bring options and let management pick the option
  13. Ask stakeholders their opinion of the best way to communicate with management
  14. Keep project details at a high level
  15. Keep communication consistent—the same reports at the same time
  16. Have a plan for when to escalate issues to your immediate bosses’ supervisor
  17. Carefully create subject lines in all emails so management can quickly see if something is urgent and what the message is really about
  18. Do not forget that face-to-face meetings can be more effective under certain circumstances
  19. Use pictures, diagrams or other visual aids to explain problems and issues whenever possible
  20. Use bullets and keep it short in all reports
  21. Have informal discussion in order to build a rapport
  22. Constantly reevaluate if management trusts you and then try to gain more trust
  23. Frequently ask what you could do to decrease meetings with management and what you could do to make them more comfortable about project progress
  24. Say “no” when no is appropriate
  25. Be able to prove that your numbers and other project information provided to management is correct
  26. Include management’s needs in the project communication plan