Lesson 6: Managing Your Project: Part 2
Step 10: Closeout
Most, if not all successful long-term Project Managers are very good with follow-through, which means that they enjoy closure. They are energized by finishing things (which is why good Project Managers are also very decisive people, because people who like closure most often like having things decided, too).
This final closeout step will therefore be one that you, as the Project Manager, truly look forward to and enjoy. In this step, as James P. Lewis notes, the project reports are written, all loose ends are tied up, and the project is formally completed, usually via a signed document from the Project Sponsor.
A great thing to do at this point, if possible, is to have a celebration with your team. It’s a good opportunity to swap war stories, thank each other, maybe apologize to a couple of folks (and vice versa), and give your team a chance to bask in the glow of a job well done. Remember, always, it is the people on a project who make it happen, including yourself. So give yourself a pat on the back, and look forward to your next challenge!
References used in this section (these books are available for order via the Resources link above):
The Project Manager’s Desk Reference, by James P. Lewis. Chapter 2.
A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, by the Project Management Institute. Chapter 10
