070 - Account Manager vs. Project Manager: When One Person Can't Do Both
What happens when the same person managing your biggest client relationships is also buried in project deliverables? If you run an experiential agency, you've probably lived that tension firsthand.
Chris and Khalil break down what separates account management from project management, why those roles demand different skill sets, and how to recognize when your team is stretched too thin to do both well. Using real examples, they get specific about what great account managers actually do, how they're measured differently than project managers, and the warning signs that tell you it's time to split the roles.
Whether you're a one-person shop wearing both hats or managing a team that's outgrowing the dual-role setup, this conversation gives you a practical framework for deciding when and how to make the change.
Key Topics & Timestamps
- 00:43 - Catching Up with Chris!
- 02:58 - What Makes a Great Account Manager?
- 04:08 - A Real-World Example: The HubSpot Account Manager
- 06:59 - Account Manager vs. Project Manager
- 10:17 - The Point Guard Analogy: Mastering the Handoff
- 13:41 - When One Person Does Both Roles
- 16:01 - When to Separate the Roles
- 22:29 - Account Management in Action: The Insurance Story
- 26:58 - What Our Best Partners Say About Great AMs
- 30:01 - Signs Your People Are Stretched Too Thin
- 33:17 - Friction Between Account Managers and Project Managers
- 35:37 - Key Takeaways
- 40:06 - Wrap-Up & What's Next
Memorable Quotes
"Clients can forgive you for problems. They don't forgive you for surprises or for silence." — Chris
"An account manager has to be the master of the handoff." — Khalil
"Magic Johnson wasn't a point guard. He was an account manager." — Chris
"People don't leave companies, they leave people." — Chris
"The account manager is maximizing the lifetime value of that client." — Khalil
Key Takeaways
- Account managers own the relationship and focus on long-term retention and growth; project managers own execution and focus on timelines, budgets, and deliverables.
- Great account managers put the relationship first, listen beyond what's said, lean into accountability, and serve as the client's internal advocate.
- Look for warning signs that your team is stretched: project-side delays and defects, clients using competitors for services you offer, and missed upsell opportunities.
- Before hiring a dedicated account manager, forecast what that role would recover in revenue and retention to justify the expense.
- The tension between process-oriented PMs and relationship-oriented AMs is natural; the key is making exceptions transparently so clients know when you're going above and beyond.
- Invest in multi-layered relationships with clients (executive, account management, and field operations) so no single departure risks the account.
Resources
More from Chris
More from Khalil
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