A regular meeting process must be used. Tools such as e-mail, voice mail, faxes, etc. must be part of every project managers daily life. Project management and quality are team concepts. No one individual is capable of doing everything on other than a small project. Every team member must always think about how they can help other members do their job more effectively.
Cross training is vital.
This allows team members to help each other, builds in support during busy times or absences, and improves the performance of everyone. Every staff member's authority level must be roughly equal to their level of responsibility. This is particularly true for project managers. Without this equality, you will not be properly able to perform your job. Unfortunately, many senior managers find it irresistible to meddle in projects particularly where they are well acquainted with the client.