Essential Skills for Effective Project Management (part 1 of 2)
A project manager carries a lot of different tools in his toolkit to be successful. He must know how to balance these skills to reach his ultimate potential as a project manager. You have stumbled upon a two-part post, and you are reading part 1. Please note that this list is not exhaustive. Several project management skills add up to professional success. After reading this list, if you find you are missing a skill or two, don't fret. Remember that most skills can be developed and improved with the proper application of student mindset, grit and determination.
Leadership
Leadership skills are crucial for a project manager, considering he leads activities to a successful completion via the project team. It's commonly believed that these skills can be learned and developed. Leadership capabilities include strategic thinking, practicing ethics, having integrity, seeking challenges, and being innovative. Good leadership skills are apparent when a project manager motivates and inspires the project team and negotiates and communicates with stakeholders.
Coaching
Coaching is a valuable tool for a project manager when he comes across a team member who is open and receptive to being coached. He has an opportunity to increase the likelihood of success in project outcomes when he adopts coaching as one of his skills. A project manager should recognize specific circumstances where coaching will benefit team performance.
Patience
Patience helps a project manager endure setbacks such as delayed deliverables or dealing with difficult people. Patience will help him manage stakeholder expectations and survive the complication of a change request. A project manager should apply patience during project negotiations. To ensure a win-win situation, he must be patient during the negotiation process.
Team Management
Team Management is a skill required for a project manager to make the most effective use of the people who are involved with the project. The team carries out the project activities while a project manager oversees these activities. Team management helps bring the project to successful completion and includes various activities, including team building, productivity management, performance evaluation, conflict management, performance problems direction, and team improvement.
Be a History Buff
This skill refers to digging up the past by examining Lesson's Learned. A project manager should enjoy reflecting and learning from project failures and successes alike. If he can’t learn from project failures, he is doomed to repeat similar situations. If he can’t focus on the achievements, he will miss the opportunity to apply those successes to existing and future project work. Lessons learned reports what went right on the project, what went wrong on the project, and what needs to be improved.
Negotiating
A project manager will undoubtedly be involved in numerous ongoing negotiations. Whether he is dealing with stakeholders or is resolving conflict among the project team, good negotiating skills are essential to meeting project goals. The benefits of project negotiations are visible when creating win-win situations and developing trust amongst stakeholders.
Communication
Project managers communicate with all stakeholders on a project, meaning they communicate with vendors, the project team, investors, sponsors, customers, and contractors. A project manager's success hinges on his ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both in written and oral form. Good communication skills ensure success in other project management areas, such as in negotiations.
Critical Thinking
With adequate time and the right experience, a project manager can develop critical thinking skills. Critical thinking involves interpreting experiences differently, such as keeping an open mind, thinking impartially, and questioning the truth. Remaining open to new ideas and other ways of doing things is part of this skill.
Organization
Organization skills are essential for a project manager because he must plan out the project details while maintaining personal time management. He is not only responsible for being personally organized and managing his own work; he is also responsible for the project team's work. Organizational skills are vital for processes to run smoothly and align with project goals. This skill includes multitasking, prioritizing tasks, and documenting all things for easy access and future reference.
A Sense of Humor
Managing a project is an arduous task; having a good sense of humor is vital to dealing with the inevitable ups and downs. Studies show that when a project manager uses humor, it leads to a more collaborative and less stressful work effort amongst the project team. Laughing helps reduce the adverse effects of stress. Humor must be used at the right time using an appropriate tone. A project manager should use good judgment and knowledge about his team members to employ the most appropriate times and places to use humor.
This post is to be continued…
To read part 2 of this post click here
