Project management skills go hand-in-hand with great leadership skills because, without a good leader, a project is unlikely to be completed successfully.
The successful completion of projects is the primary responsibility and goal of the Project Manager, who will have a lot of weight on their shoulders when it comes to making the right decisions.
While some people possess natural leadership qualities, other leadership skills must be learned and adapted to ensure that each individual’s approach to leadership is tailored to suit their own individual style and personality.
So, what are the fundamental qualities of good project management skills?
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- The ability to share a clear vision and inspire others
- Positive attitude and enthusiasm
- Integrity
- Competence
- Cool, calm disposition
- Problem solver
- Team builder
- Excellent delegator
- Excellent decision maker
1. Communication
Excellent communication skills are vital to enable a project manager to communicate effectively with a broad spectrum of people at different levels within an organization and externally.
In order to lead a project, you must be able to clearly communicate your vision, goals, guidelines, and expectations to others.
The ability to deliver and receive constructive feedback and listen to others is another important part of leading a team of individuals. Essentially, being a great communicator is a key element to working well with others in any work environment.
2. Sharing a Vision
The ability to see the ‘bigger picture’ behind a project and effectively convey that vision to others is an incredibly valuable and important quality in a Project Manager.
Successfully articulating the vision of a project ensures the team can experience it in their mind and helps to get them on board without delay.
3. Positive Attitude
A leader with an eternally full cup and a positive mental attitude is a pleasure to engage with, and their enthusiasm automatically rubs off on others.
Being committed to a project and displaying confidence in it positively impacts the team and forms the basis of a happy, productive work environment.
4. Integrity
Part of being a great team leader is the ability to gain the trust of your team.
By demonstrating that you are committed to adhering to both your values and ethical practices in general, team members will soon recognize that you are an honest leader.
5. Competence
When a leader cannot demonstrate that they are competent and capable, they will be unable to gain the respect and trust of their team and colleagues.
A team must always feel confident that their leader is in control and knows exactly what they are doing.
6. Cool, Calm and Collected
Regardless of how well a project is planned, there will always be obstacles of some sort to overcome along the way. A good Project Manager will never panic or lose their head when things go wrong.
Instead, they will remain calm, assess the problem, and find the best way to resolve it, in order to put the project back on the right track.
If things become too stressful at any point, any flapping or excessive sweating should be done in private.
7. Problem Solver
A great project manager should possess excellent problem-solving skills and be resourceful and creative in their general approach to problems.
On many occasions, when working on a project, this may be a simple case of identifying the right person(s) within the team to help you resolve the problem quickly and effectively.
Sometimes, the real skill here is in truly grasping the issues behind the problem, which is always a fundamental element of the problem-solving process.
8. Team Builder
A strong, happy team is a productive one. For the project to reach a successful conclusion, the team must work well together for a common purpose.
Within any team of individuals, you will find a variety of personalities that will need to somehow gel together to form a positive dynamic.
Part of successfully leading a team will involve learning about each individual’s skills and personality in order to get the best out of the team as a whole.
Spotting areas of conflict within the team early on and managing conflict is crucial.
9. Delegator
Having a good understanding of your team members allows you to delegate tasks to the right individuals for the best possible results.
Team members will respond well to a manager who delegates appropriate tasks that are well suited to their skillset and subsequently trusts them to get on with it.
Encourage staff to approach you to discuss any queries or difficulties if needed rather than undermine them by constantly checking up on them, and they will feel more valued.
10. Decision Maker
The personal decisions you make as a Project Manager have a direct impact on the success of a project and, ultimately, the success of the business itself.
In order to be strong in this area, it is essential that you arm yourself with all of the information you need from the outset so that when the time comes, informed decisions can be made quickly.
At times, however, it is inevitable that mistakes will be made. After all, it is impossible to make the best decisions all of the time!
If and when the wrong decision is made, an excellent leader can put their hands up, be accountable, and take responsibility.
Nothing is worse than a leader who points the finger when things go wrong instead of taking responsibility for their own decisions.
A Project Manager with the Right Ingredients
Project managers who have strong technical project management skills and also consistently demonstrate competence in the key skills and qualities listed above are a huge asset to any organization and significantly increase the success of the projects they lead.
A strong, dedicated team leader goes hand in hand with consistently successful project management.
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If you have ideas about project management skills that might be helpful to readers, share them in the comments section below. Thanks!
Would you like to contribute a post?
In addition to the TEN fundamental Leadership Qualities and Skills for Successful Project Management, as listed above, I would like to ADD an eleventh essential category of PASSION. As a matter of fact, my short definition of a Leader, is VIP, where V for VISION, I for INTEGRITY, and P for PASSION. Of course, VIP traditionally stands for a VERY IMPORTANT PERSON Dr. Arun Jhaveri
Dr. Jhaveri,
I appreciate your insight on the VIP initiative. P = Passion is one of the most sought after traits of any successful professional, but seldom do you see it in the field. Passion toward others can never be trumped by any philosophy. Thanks for this. It truly is a reminder that we indeed all human.
Dr. Jhaveri,
Its interesting to see another interpretation of a VIP:)
In my humble opinion; Compassion is the foremost quality a successful and true leader must possesses.
your right, Passion is very important in leadership
These skills are must for certified PM and I enjoyed your post. One of my friend did this course from Koenig Solutions and right now he is working with reputed company and getting good salary package.
Thanks for the advice. I will use it. My friend advised a good site ESSAYSALES.ORG Now I have no problems with my studies. Try and you
Clear and precise communication is key to eliminating uncertainty among team members, it allows team members to operate within there area of expertise to produce a successful outcomes that convey pride through inclusiveness.
Authentic leadership is highly regarded in many professional circles. Project management is enhanced when the PM is authentic and able to carry out their role with sincerity. Authentic leadership promotes trust and buy-in from a project management team, which subsequently leads to a successful project completion.
operation keeps the lights on, strategy provides a light at the end of the tunnel, but project management is the train engine that moves the organization forward.
I enjoyed reading all the different suggestions. I feel that a good project manager would need to keep track of the schedule and make sure that every task is completed in a timely manner. Projects that take too long to complete will possibly not be quite as successful, hence the saying, “Time is Money”.