Artfully managing expectations is one of the most important skills a project manager (PM) can develop. When expectations are properly managed, teams are better equipped to deliver exceptional results, from executing on a behemoth campaign to meeting small, daily deadlines. The earlier this skill can be developed in one’s career, the better.
The Art of Setting Expectations as a Project Manager
Managing stakeholder expectations is one of the most challenging parts of the job. Here are five ways to do so successfully.
October 18, 2023
Summary.
Managing the expectations of a wide range of stakeholders is one of the most challenging jobs of a project manager. Yet there’s no educational program or training for this skill because everyone’s expectations are unique and often deeply personal. PMs need to use a combination of intuition, listening, iterating, and learning on the fly to address them successfully. In this article, the author suggests five strategies for managing expectations effectively.
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Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Writing Skills. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
Capture your audience's attention with smarter emails, Slacks, memos, and reports.