Every project manager understands the importance of completing projects on time and on budget. Good project managers also go to great lengths to ensure that project criteria are met on a consistent basis. Great project managers, on the other hand, go above and above. Not only do they complete projects on time and on budget, but they are also accountable, strategic business partners who are invested in the organization's success.
What is a Project Manager?
A project manager is a person who is in charge of all parts of a project from beginning to end. Project managers are in charge of planning, executing, and overseeing projects, and they are frequently the first point of contact for any concerns that may develop. As a project manager, you will most likely be in charge of a team of people to whom you will delegate and allocate duties in order to execute a project.
Common responsibilities
A project manager's typical responsibilities include:
- Identifying and conveying project goals
- Obtaining any project requirements, such as materials, teams, and technology
- Creating timetables and schedules for the project's completion
- Managing the project's quality, timeliness, and cost
- Keeping track of every work completed as part of the project
- Stakeholder identification and management
- Bringing the project to a close and confirming that all goals have been satisfied
Highly effective 10 traits of Project Managers
In the year 2020, a lot has changed. As a result of COVID-19, project management has grown more difficult. The following attributes of highly effective project managers will show you the way if you want to stand out and take your project management career to the next level.
These qualities, when combined with the appropriate technical skills, will put you in higher demand as a project manager, giving a solid foundation that will allow you to react to the project's constantly changing dynamics while prioritising the demands of your stakeholders.
- A skilled communicator -
Communication is the most important skill because it plays such an important role in managing projects, teams, and other stakeholders. Communication does not just include being an excellent facilitator, speaker, or writer; it also necessitates excellent listening abilities. It's beneficial to actively listen to what's being said — and not stated — and to consider context. Listening to others' perspectives and taking into consideration their experiences and knowledge can assist to avoid possible conflict and hazards caused by blind spots, as well as boost project success.
- Accountable and trustworthy -
On a project, not everything will go as to plan. Mistakes are to be expected, but it's critical to always recognise when you're wrong and learn from them. It's critical to take responsibility for your decisions and actions, since it sends a powerful message to the rest of the team. "Integrity, decisiveness, sound judgement, the capacity to establish a vision and execute it, confidence in your own competence" are trademarks of extremely effective project managers, according to Paul Dillon, founder of Dillon Consulting Services.
- Working amid the gloom -
All of the previously described qualities stand out, but the ability to work in the grey area is what truly distinguishes a project manager. Because the majority of projects, regardless of type, industry, size, or complexity, will include grey regions that you will need to negotiate at some point, this is a must-have ability. External limits and complications, remote project limitations, disagreement and uncertainty – all of these and other unknowns will very likely arise. When you combine those skills with the ability to work in the grey, you've got yourself a highly capable project manager.
- A catalyst for change - If the year 2020 has taught us anything, it is that change is unavoidable and can be extremely disruptive in many aspects of business and personal life, including project management. Highly effective project managers are aware of this, embrace it, and include elements of risk into their project planning. They also understand the importance of collaborating closely with change management professionals to assist stakeholders in adapting to change and better preparing for the future state of affairs — as well as functioning in the grey.
- Stakeholder-focused -
COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on businesses and individuals around the world, making it impossible to prioritise stakeholder demands over personal and family concerns. Good project managers, on the other hand, can separate their own requirements from those of project stakeholders as professionals. Regardless of personal bias or needs, they give their best effort at all times. This is the amount of focus that organisations have grown to expect from project managers, and it is what distinguishes excellent candidates.
- Giving credit to others in a generous manner -
Others' contributions have a significant impact on a project leader's ability to lead his or her team. Project managers that are very effective share credit for good work and encourage all team members to participate and contribute to their full potential. Rather than trying to be a jack of all trades, make use of the team's collective knowledge and talents. This simple but effective strategy can dramatically boost your chances of attaining your objectives.
- A capable motivator -
The ability of a project manager to communicate with and influence a wide range of stakeholders is critical to project success. After all, you must discover ways to encourage employees over whom you have no direct control but who have the power to make or break a project. It's critical to instil confidence in the minds of stakeholders and sponsors, especially if and when it's required to approach them with adjustments to the project's scope. If you want to be respected by your teammates, stakeholders, and sponsors, you must treat them with respect at all times. Without respect and motivation, especially from sponsors and stakeholders, it's nearly impossible for projects to develop in the proper direction and on time.
- Fully committed to success -
Highly effective project managers are passionate about their profession and are invested in seeing a project through from start to finish. This mentality aids in achieving the finest results possible throughout the project. Participate fully in all professional aspects of the project, including its operations and people. If you want to maintain professional ethics and stakeholder satisfaction, don't overextend yourself. Engagement, resilience, and the ability to sustain a high level of client and team satisfaction, according to John Paul Engel, president of Knowledge Capital Consulting, are the keys to delivering success.
- A well-liked and respected leader -
Although you can't please everyone, having a well-respected leadership reputation usually signifies you've earned it via hard effort. This will take some time if you're new to project management. Working to improve your communication skills, investing in your stakeholders' success, and preserving accountability and integrity, among other things, will help you get there faster. Once you've arrived, it's much easier to lead projects and teams with ease.
- A strategic business partner -
Project managers who can deliver higher-level strategic leadership skills, rather than merely technical management skills, benefit firms of all sizes significantly. Since the epidemic began in early 2020, there have been significantly more complex internal and external issues that might negatively affect initiatives of all kinds. The triple bottom line (economic, ecological, and social consequences), legal and legislative limits, remote project challenges, international and cultural factors, as well as severe resource constraints and delays, are all examples of such factors. Factors like this contribute to the challenges that a project manager must overcome. You greatly reduce your chances of producing good outcomes if you don't have a strong understanding of how your project fits into the overarching company-wide strategic goals. EPMOs (executive project management offices) concentrate on this link to boost project, programme, and portfolio success rates.
How can these qualities help to tackle the project hindrances?
Before we go any further, let's go over the limits that a project manager should be aware of. The following are the limitations:
- SCOPE - It specifies the customers' wants as well as the explicit and implicit requirements.
- TIME - Customers want their projects to be completed by a certain deadline.
- QUALITY - It is the standard to which a project is anticipated to be completed.
- RESOURCE - This refers to the quantity of money, budget, or resources allocated to the project.
- RISK - Specifies what might happen to throw the plan off track and what will be done to get it back on track.
These aren't the only limitations that a project may face. The following are some of the major reasons for the project's failure:
- User interaction is lacking.
- Timescales that are too long or too short.
- Poor or non-existent requirements.
- Creep in the scope.
- There is no change management mechanism in place.
- Inadequate testing.
The suggested attributes work together to assist a project manager avoid all of these stumbling blocks and move the project forward successfully.
Final thoughts
When using various project management systems to keep all elements of their projects organised, a project manager should have specific features and characteristics. These qualities enable a project manager to address each project as though it were its own distinct entity.
Furthermore, with the increasing need for project managers around the world, the traits listed above will undoubtedly aid you in gaining a foothold in the fast-paced market. I wish you the best of luck in your project management endeavours!
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