Transparently planning and executing a project (complete with assigned stakeholders, measurable milestones, and a way to identify roadblocks) is the only way marketing teams can control the outcome. Project management is a roadmap that everyone involved can use to keep themselves on task. It also provides a priceless format for sharing information, collaborating, and addressing workflow obstacles. When done right, a PM framework empowers project teams to complete their work on time and within budget. Without a strong project management system, projects can easily get bogged down, team members can lose focus, and important information can fall through the cracks.

Project managers need to be proactive and attentive to maintain the project schedule. PMs often liaise between clients, the C-level, and marketing teams to ensure projects run smoothly. This involves:

• Providing instructions to project participants
• Establishing deadlines for deliverables
• Communicating with collaborators and stakeholders
• Setting expectations for all the above

Proactively managing every aspect of a project, from the timeline to the resource allocation to the potential bottlenecks, is challenging but worth the effort.

Investing in and making marketing project management a top priority allows marketing teams to reap several significant rewards, including:

• Greater consistency in processes
• Enhanced team collaboration
• Improved accountability
• Refined organisation
• More thoughtful planning