As a project manager, some tasks are reserved for us and cannot be delegated to others. Organizations authorize the project manager through the project charter to plan, execute, monitor, control, and close the project. Ensuring that the project finishes on time, below or on budget, and within the predefined scope.  To be successful and gain the respect of your team, and the organizations do not delegate these 7 tasks:  

The Projects Vision: 

The project and product owners work together along with the team to set the vision for the project. The decision to agree and finalize the vision must be facilitated by the project manager and captured within the project charter that the key stakeholders and sponsors signed off. The next step would be to start planning your iterations or project plans based on the methodology you are following (Waterfall or Agile)  

Project Hiring and Team Selection Decisions

The Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) is the key document that defines the individual work packages and activities needed to finish the project. A detailed WBS and WBS dictionary includes information such as resources requirements (Human and Material), successor and predecessor activities, cost of activity, an estimate of time, and much more. This information allows the Project manager to decide what type of resources to hire and the length of time they are needed on the project.

Team Discipline and Performance Appraisal

Coaching and mentoring while telling your team members to get aligned to their tasks is one of the hardest jobs of a project manager. It is important not to allow external influences to decide how your team should be disciplined or praised for their work. Team members respect a project manager that can vouch for them with the organization and tell them what they have done wrong and right at the right time and setting.  

Project Management Review Meetings

Project management reviews (PMR's) are a time to shine in front of people who want you to succeed and some who are hoping you will fail at your job. Be prepared to answer tough questions and come back with answers if you don't have them at the moment. RMR's cannot be delegated to a team member. It is fully your responsibility to be the barrier between the project and the organization.

Directing Project Work and Project Oversight

The project charter has a special line for the project manager's name, and usually, there is only one name there: Project Manager: Mahjooba Bianchi.

That means the PM is responsible for the success and failure of the project. Directing project work and analyzing its progress against the plan, assessing your team's deliverable validation, and monitoring changes in the project manager's responsibility. A successful project manager ensures their team can openly communicate issues and roadblocks without fear of being reprimanded. 

What other tasks would you add to this ist that project managers cannot delegate to others? Leave a comment below.

Mahjooba Bianchi, PMP, CSM