Communication

Communication is the essence of project management – getting the right information to the right people at the right time. Here are a few general notes about how to be effective in your project management communications:

• Know the players. Our business is about technology but it is even more about people. Know all the relevant people at the client’s office. If there is co-counsel, know them. Be very sure you know everyone on the CLS team who has a hand in your project.
• Know the case. What’s the nature of the case? What jurisdiction? Who’s on the opposing side? What are the issues?
• Know the tools. For internal communication, CLS has put an excellent communication tool in your hands, the Project Management System which we will discuss later in this manual. For communicating with clients, email will be your mainstay, but know when to pick up the phone and talk through an issue.

While we’re on the subject of communication, there’s one message you will have to convey from time to time no matter how good a project manager you are. That message is, “I don’t know.” It is simply not possible for any project manager – or anyone else, for that matter – to know everything. Sometimes you will have to tell your client that you don’t have the answer – yet. At times like these, have a plan for how you will get the information you need. Clients can deal with that and keep their confidence in us if you let them know