5 Essential Project Management Skills

While these leaders are expected to have the same strong management skills of any manager, the nature of project management stresses the value of certain skills over others. With project management methodology in increasing demand, employers are actively searching for individuals who can lead project teams and deliver quality products in suitable timeframes. Here are 5 crucial skills for project management professionals.

1. Leadership

Effective project managers tend to be excellent decision-makers and are able to delegate responsibilities to the team members most equipped to handle them. Leaders must also be able to form and manage teams and communicate with stakeholders. This trait combines strong communication skills with a calm temperament and a positive, can-do approach to problem solving. It may seem obvious, but strong leadership skills are crucial for project managers.

2. Problem Solving

While each of these points can certainly be discussed in further detail, successful project managers generally have at the very least a basic understanding of the following ordered problem-solving approach. Project management tends to follow a specific problem-solving framework.

• Clearly define the problem and what you are trying to solve to help provide a clear set of objectives and a pathway to success.
• Pause to reflect on your problem-solving attempt to determine its strengths and weaknesses.
• Oversee the implementation of the solution and adjust to meet any complications.
• Choose the best solution from each of the options in the previous step.
• Analyze the problem in detail to uncover any variables that may help identify the root of the issue.
• Develop an awareness of all possible solutions to the problem and their respective pros and cons.
• Be proactive in finding new, potential problems rather than waiting to see if anything goes wrong.

3. Organizational Awareness

In a project-based organizational structure, project teams are given a degree of autonomy to manage projects as they see fit, ultimately placing project managers in positions of overall responsibility. There are several different types of organizational structure in project management and all have an impact on management style.

Managers must have a clear sense of the current chain of command and whether they or senior executives will bear responsibility for final deliverables. In businesses with a functional organizational structure, a traditional business hierarchy tasks senior executives with overall project quality. Awareness of how an organization is structured and how project teams are formed is very important for project management professionals.

4. Communication

Another key to communication is awareness of word choice, tone and body language. Project managers aim for clarity and sensitivity, and have an ability to speak clear and concise with all team members.

Project management involves leading teams from different departments who may not be used to working together. Members may have different skills and may be expected to bring something unique to the table. Good communication and effective leadership typically go hand-in-hand. One of the most important skills for project managers is great communication.

5. Time Management

Good managers can adapt to changes in the project, and develop a trust between team members, rather than micromanage. It’s also important for project managers to avoid the temptation of managing too much. In addition to personal time management, project managers must be able to maximize productivity and minimize distractions in several key project areas.

The ability to manage time and prioritize tasks is an essential characteristic of efficient project managers. Workers may respond better to managers who are able to stay on task, avoid procrastination and complete work on time.

SHARE THIS