A project manager undertakes one or more
than one project at a time. Every project is an investment of people, time,
resources, and money. There should be a proper plan, and every element has to
be organized right from the planning stage until the closure of the project. A
project manager has a huge responsibility for managing and driving his team
towards the project's goal. The success of a project and the project team
depends on project managers' abilities and attributes he/she possesses. Hence,
there are a few qualities every project manager must have to be effective.
Let’s find out what are the qualities that
are essential to be an effective Project Manager:
Effective
Communication
Communication is one of the most important qualities a project manager must
possess. A project manager has to interact with clients, shareholders, third
parties, employees, top management, and various other parties within and
outside the organization. If she/he cannot communicate effectively, it can
impact his/her overall functioning. A project manager has to lead the team and
inform or direct right them from the planning stage. If a project manager is
ineffective with his communication and cannot comprehend with the team members,
it will impact the overall running of the project.
Leadership
Skills
A project manager should have leadership
skills. She/he has to motivate the team, keep the team together, and should be
able to lead her/his team during smooth or rough times. A good leader will
efficiently drive performance in the team and push their team to achieve their
goals. He/she will have a vision for the team, and they will be able to share
their vision with the team members. A leader with vision will adapt to any unexpected
changes and also empower his/her people to achieve their goals.
Integrity
A project manager should set the bar high
for integrity. She/he should always follow good practices and never engage in
any discussion that leads to unethical behavior. Integrity and ethics are
qualities that they have to display through their behavior. A team looks up to
their managers and leaders on how they behave and the decisions they take under
any circumstances.
Organized
A project manager should be organized as
they have quite a lot on their plate. It is easy to miss things if they are not
organized. A project manager has to juggle quite a few things, including
meetings, time, budget, and scope. Prioritizing things and setting the goal is
crucial on a day to day basis.
Empathy
Understanding someone else's perspective is
not that easy. A project manager should be able to connect with their
employees, clients, and top management. A good project manager will be able to
gauge the emotions of his/her team members by just entering the meeting room or
having a conversation with them. He/she must understand how they feel and be
able to connect with them and make them feel comfortable and reliable.
Decision
maker
A project manager has to make a lot of
decisions during the phase of a project. A project manager should be prepared
to make difficult decisions at any given time. At times, these decisions have
to be quick and prompt.
Team-Building
A project team could be a group of
strangers from various departments. It comes down to the project manager to
bring them together and drive to achieve one common goal. In spite of the
differences, a project manager should be able to bring them together as one
team. He/she should be able to understand the dynamics of his/her team,
understand each person’s challenges, and positive traits. He/she should
delegate tasks according to their strengths and bring them together to work as
a team.
Negotiation
skills
A project manager should have the ability
to negotiate. There can be conflicts in his team or differences of opinion; a
project manager should be able to address and solve them amicably. Besides the
team, a project manager may have to negotiate with clients and vendors at
different stages of the project cycle. A project manager should comfortably be
able to negotiate and come to a positive answer or settlement.
Problem
Solving Skills
Problem-solving skill is a must-have for
every project manager. There will be several problems or situations that may
arise during a project’s life cycle or within the team. A project manager
should have the ability to solve these problems without impacting the working
of the project.
Competence
A project manager should have the
competence to run a project and to work with the team. If a team feels that the
manager is incompetent, it will affect the team's discipline and control as
well as the success of the project. Competence doesn’t mean knowing the
technicalities of the project, but the ability to run a project efficiently. A
project manager should be able to inspire, challenge, and efficiently work
through the different stages of the project's life cycle.
A project manager should have these
qualities to manage the team and ensure the smooth running of the project.
Having a thorough technical knowledge is not enough, but these attributes
contribute to the success of a project manager in managing his/her project as
well as the team.
Certification Planner is a leading
e-learning platform that prepares you with the skills and essential qualities
required to be an effective project manager. Learn more about the various project
management courses with Certification Planner.
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