A project manager is a professional who is generally in charge of leading a team toward the completion of a defined goal while navigating challenging barriers like time management and budget. A project manager also requires excellent communication skills, since they are usually the go-between for clients and their team members. They help to diplomatically address any concerns and help facilitate decision-making and compromise when problems arise.
There are a lot of important skills that project managers need to possess, but they also have many different software options at their disposal to make their job easier. Here, you’ll learn about some of the most popular project management tools.
monday.com
Teams across industries use monday.com as their project management platform of choice. For instance, HR departments can use it to streamline recruitment and keep track of employees’ leave requests. It is also useful for anyone in sales or marketing who needs to plan an event. One primary feature of monday is its mobile app, which allows teams to stay connected and monitor their progress at a glance. The website also offers boards and checklists to help break down big projects into more manageable goals and assign tasks to individual team members.
Asana
Asana is another quality web-based option for any project manager, though it is especially popular in the software industry. It comes loaded with a lot of advanced customization tools so you can create flexible workflows for a variety of projects. It is also widely thought of as having the best free plan out of many other options; you can likely use the free version indefinitely if your company has less than 15 users. Asana also has plenty of useful automation tools. It can automatically update your team in Slack when a task has been completed and assign a new task to a person who isn’t currently working on a project.
Smartsheet
If you prefer a spreadsheet-style of project management, Smartsheet may be the perfect choice for you. The main interface allows for in-depth team collaboration. Members can share files, take and exchange notes when giving feedback to each other, and collaborate on projects in real-time. Those who use Smartsheet particularly appreciate the powerful reporting capabilities of the program. Sheets are updated in real-time so team members always have the most updated information, and reports can be consolidated to show any outstanding tasks so deadlines are always met. Smartsheet is also HIPAA compliant so you can feel confident that all of your data is secure.
Microsoft Project
For those who are already familiar with other Microsoft Office programs, Microsoft Project is a great option. Many users report that the program feels similar to Excel, so those who are already comfortable with Excel shouldn’t find Project too difficult to understand. The program offers users multiple formats to view their projects in. For instance, there is a grid view to help prioritize pending assignments and a Kanban-style dashboard if you want to see the status of your projects at a glance. One of the more unique features of Microsoft Project is its resource management functionality. These tools allow you to keep track of various costs related to your projects like equipment and materials. This program is ideal for larger groups who have to manage a significant amount of resources for different projects.
Wrike
With a lot of advanced features and customization tools, Wrike is a versatile project management tool worth checking out. Although it is geared toward the marketing industry, it’s flexible and can be tailored to almost any project. Wrike users especially appreciate the real-time analytics offered by the program. Dashboards automatically refresh every 15 minutes, meaning information is always up-to-date when you need it. Another unique feature is the custom request forms within Wrike. This tool saves teams the headache of updating a single shared spreadsheet and is designed to trigger automation of tasks to help save additional time.
Jira
For software developers or anyone with a large IT team, Jira might be the ideal project management solution. The program was originally designed as a bug tracker, so this feature is very robust and secure. It can even help prioritize which bugs need to be dealt with first. Jira also comes with outstanding reporting features and is easily customized. It can be integrated with over 3,000 different third-party apps.
Trello
With Trello, simplicity is key. The drag-and-drop layout allows for quick and intuitive navigation, even for those with limited technical experience. However, those who are more tech-savvy will enjoy the customizable functions that Trello has to offer. Power-Ups enable users to sync this platform with other organizational tools like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Slack. Trello is also one of the more affordable project management tools on the market, and most users feel they get a lot for their money. Paid plans start their pricing at $5 per user and offer unlimited storage.
Take Project Management Classes with Career Centers
Whether you’re already a project manager or looking to become one, Career Centers offers several project management courses both remotely and in-person at its Manhattan campus. Career Centers offers both an Intro and Advanced Project Management Course as part of its programming. These two courses are combined in the Project Management Bootcamp for those who wish to take both courses at the same time for a reduced price. These courses explore the various approaches to project management and will provide a thorough overview of the five different phases of project management.
If you’re hoping to attain a Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification, Career Centers has a four-day bootcamp available that will help you do just that. This class is taught by a PMP certified instructor and comes with an exam guide and support through the PMP application process.