Managing Project Communications

In this chapter

• Understand why effective communications are so important
• Discover what makes effective project communications difficult
• Learn the key principles of managing project communications
• Understand what factors impact project communications the most
• Review the key interpersonal skills utilized by effective communicators
• Learn the best techniques for communications plan, meetings, and status reporting

Communication is the fuel that drives project success, and the mishandling of it is a top five reason why projects struggle. You've likely heard this mantra before, but what does this really mean, why is it true, and more importantly, how do we handle our project communications effectively?

In this chapter, we will answer these questions, review what we mean by project communications, think about why effective communication cannot be taken for granted, and study the key principles and best practices leveraged by effective communicators. With this knowledge, you will greatly increase your own personal effectiveness and position your project for the best outcome possible.