“Beyond Delegating: The Project Manager as Coach”
by Bob McGannon, PMP

Most project managers who have received any training at all have undoubtedly heard about the need to “delegate.” As we cannot manage significant projects and perform all necessary tasks ourselves, delegation is an absolute must to expand one’s capabilities as a project manager. The smart project manager, however, goes beyond delegating; expanding the magnitude of projects they can handle. What is this magic ‘beyond delegating” trick? The highly valuable project manager knows how to coach. Coaching involves and instills powerful lessons, including:

Growth Can be Continuous

One’s past experiences provide a window to demonstrate current capacities. However, they also illuminate one’s capabilities. The watchful caring project manager looks for capabilities in project team members, versus just nurturing capacity to handle tasks. Doing this requires careful listening and observing, and discovering the ambitions of team members. This does take precious time, and the dividends of that time are significant.

Coached team members increase their capacities, expand their roles, and allow the project manager to delegate more extensive and critical responsibilities.

Appropriate Discomfort Promotes Growth

The astute project manager/coach will find the means to provide individuals with assignments that not only capitalize on their displayed capacities, but will call for expanded skills. With guidance and observation, a good PM/coach will make their colleague a bit nervous, but not so much so that they “collapse under the pressure.” How can you tell if you have reached the right level with a “stretch” assignment? Listen for the questions that your colleague asks. Too many detailed and tedious process questions (which indicates a lack of understanding) or too few questions (which indicate an inability to comprehend what is being asked of them) are indications that you might have pushed your colleague too far. Watch for reactions to your answers to solidify your understanding of how far you have “pushed” and if it is appropriate.

When you have stretched your colleague appropriately, you can accelerate their capacities and confidence in significant leaps. This, in turn, expands your abilities as a project manager by expanding the work capacities around you.

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