Three Qualities To Look For in a Project Management Services Firm

No matter how deep and wide a project manager’s experience goes, if they’re truly great at what they do, they’ll never take a “been there/done that” approach to any job. That’s because the best consultants understand that each client is pursuing their own unique set of goals, and in doing so, they encounter their own distinct challenges.

No matter what project management services company you choose to work with, keep that in mind. Blu Pagoda’s CEO Rachel Formaro further elaborates on the kind of individualized approach clients should expect from any consulting firm they hire.

Up-Front Listening

“Clients have told me that they’ve worked with other consultants who come in and say, ‘OK! We have the solution. Here it is, and let’s get started,” says Rachel.

At Blu, however, Rachel and her team do a lot of work upfront to find out what’s keeping the client up at night. “To listen, hear, and truly understand our client, we provide a safe space for honest discussion, allowing them to be as ‘off the cuff’ as they need to be for us to identify their heaviest lifts,” says Rachel.

By getting to know clients personally, a consulting firm will be able to ascertain which of their project managers is the best fit for the client's specific needs, whether it’s an individual or a group of professionals. “After gaining a thorough understanding of the issues — and the best fit from a roster of consultants — the firm can then start to look for strategies and break down the project into manageable deliverables,” says Rachel.

Ongoing Communication Throughout the Project

A successful project management consultant maintains a strong communication channel with the client. “Our teams have regular check-ins, whether weekly or daily, to ensure that the project stays on track and that any new challenges are promptly addressed,” says Rachel.

It’s also important that the consultancy firm’s leadership regularly checks in with clients. In Blu Pagoda’s case, Rachel personally holds monthly meetings with the client to provide a feedback loop. These discussions provide an opportunity for deeper dives and further strategic alignment, when needed, as well as another set of experienced hands to help refine each project.

Sustained Success Through Long-Term Relationships

Any consultant’s “true North” should be to align their efforts with each client’s long-term growth goals. That also encompasses enhancing the overall customer experience for the clients’ clients.  While most of Blu’s projects have definite “finish lines” in place, in today’s dynamic business culture, things shift quickly and often. That’s why long-term relationships with consulting firms are key.

“We’ve had some of our clients through the entire eight years we’ve been a consulting firm,” says Rachel. “We understand their language, we’ve navigated market shifts together. When they need us further down the road, they make that phone call.”

A project management service that already has a deep understanding of your business will be able to anticipate challenges, sidestep pitfalls, get a plan in place, and wrap it all up sooner.

To find out more about Blu Pagoda’s bespoke approach to project management — and to see if our team could be the right fit for your next project — talk to Rachel.