Project Management is a critical role in any organization, responsible for ensuring that projects are completed on time, within budget, and to the satisfaction of stakeholders. However, not everyone is cut out for this demanding and complex job. Successful Project Managers possess a unique combination of skills and qualities that enable them to navigate challenges, overcome obstacles, and lead their teams to success.
We sat down with our President and CEO, Joyce Groendyke, to explore the top five qualities that every successful Project Manager should possess, from ownership to leading relationally. Whether you're an aspiring Project Manager or a seasoned pro, these qualities are essential to achieving project success.
Ownership
Successful Project Managers take ownership of their projects, from planning, to resourcing, to execution. They are accountable for the project’s success or failure, and take responsibility for their team’s actions. By accepting ownership, Project Managers can motivate their team to in turn take ownership of their own work and ensure that everyone is working towards the same goal.
Some Project Managers take credit for the good work, yet shift the blame when projects fall behind. Successful Project Managers take responsibility for both the good and the bad, but give credit to their team for the good and keep responsibility for themselves for the bad.
“[Project Managers] must report the facts, both the good and the bad, as well as manage the scope of the work” said Joyce, leading us into the second quality
Drive the Project
Project Managers must drive the project(s) and focus on delivering the project’s objectives on time and within budget. Driven Project Managers can keep their team motivated and on track, even during challenging times. They must be excellent in their planning skills but be careful to not just “admin” a project, but actually engage and drive the project forward.
“Organizations can fall into the habit of only reporting what is going on, repeating what they hear from members of the team rather than understanding and controlling what is done.”
“[Project Managers] have to be fully engaged with all elements of the project to drive decisions forward…they don’t just drive in the planning phase–they drive through the entire project.
Lead Relationally
Relational leadership is an approach that emphasizes building strong relationships with team members, stakeholders, and clients. Successful Project Managers understand the importance of building trust, open communication, and collaboration.
Project Managers have to build rapport with their team to effectively celebrate the wins while also efficiently learning from the losses. They see the relationship between the stakeholders, themselves, and their team as a partnership and not just a hierarchy of authority. It’s not just important to lead the team, but to lead each team member the way that they best respond to leadership.
“Often, PMs just want to look well in front of stakeholders and leadership. They have to learn that you are in a partnership on the project.”
Resourceful
Project Managers must be resourceful and adaptable. They should be able to think creatively and find solutions to problems, even in challenging situations. PMs need to be skillful in both administrative and leadership tasks; additionally they should have a strong enough understanding of the project to be able to break it down into small units.
“PMs have to be resourceful in identifying and implementing strategies to overcome any potential project constraints.”
Remove Roadblocks
Roadblocks in a project take many forms: unforeseen problems, resource constraints, and even conflict among team members. Successful Project Managers can identify potential roadblocks before they occur and develop contingency plans to help mitigate the risk. Removing roadblocks quickly helps to promote a positive work environment for your team. This can lead to increased motivation, productivity, and job satisfaction, which can all ultimately contribute to the success of the project.
“Things will come up…major things may happen…projects may go sideways. Things will happen. But [to be successful] you have to be able to manage it well.”
Successful Project Managers possess a unique combination of skills and qualities that enable them to navigate challenges, overcome obstacles, and lead their teams to success. By striving to grow in the above qualities, Project Managers can deliver successful projects that meet or exceed stakeholder expectations.
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