What is a Project Manager?
One of the most vital roles in a project is the Project Manager. The PMBOK sixth edition defines the role as:
The person assigned by the performing organization to lead the team that is responsible for achieving the project outcomes.
According to this definition, a project manager is accountable for accomplishing the project objective. To be a successful leader, he must adopt the project goals as his own and inspire a shared purpose within the project team.
A project manager ensures the organization focuses on the most critical aspects of the work and produces accurate results in a cost-efficient manner. He must align himself with the organization's strategic objectives to see where the project fits into that strategy. While it might seem easy, a project manager's role is complex and varied. He will face many challenges to drive his project to successful completion.
Typical project manager responsibilities include:
• Take the sponsor and stakeholders' input and identify the primary problem to solve, then plan how to solve it
• Determine the project objectives, scope, and activities that will assist him in reaching the project objectives
• Plan and schedule tasks, oversee the daily execution of those tasks, and monitor progress
• Assess team performance and bring the project to a close, and capture lessons learned
Every project manager possesses a wide array of professional skills. He doesn't have to be an expert at everything; project management skills will differ from personality to personality. A project manager interacts with the broader organization and the team. His skills should be well-rounded to accommodate the nature of his position. For example, A project manager uses persuasion, influence, and expertise to make things happen and ensure project success. He uses motivation, integrity, negotiation, and optimism when dealing with people. He utilizes other skills to recognize when problems arise on a project and when the issue has been addressed and closed.
Qualities of a great project manager include but aren't limited to:
· Leadership skills
· Communication skills
· Problem-solving skills
· Delegation skills
· Team-building skills
· Enthusiasm
· Competence
· Integrity
· Optimism
· Organizational skills
· Goal-oriented work style
· Patience
Check out our post on project management skills for more details on what makes a successful project manager.
References:
2017. A guide to the project management body of knowledge. 6th ed. Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, USA: Project Management Institute, pp.10-598.
