Project management is a set of principles designed to secure and manage the resources of a company. It employs a methodological approach of guiding project progress through planning and organizing the project’s progress right from the begging to the end. Project managers in this case are trusted to execute their responsibilities in ensuring successful completion of a project.
Skills and Qualitative of Project Managers
Vision
The successful project manager must manage the basic elements of a project. Resources, time, money and scope give us a quite realistic example of basic elements essential for project execution. Of primary importance is the ability to manage and balance the four elements. First and foremost, skills and qualities required for a successful project manager are mentioned by Barry (2009) to include; effective leadership skills, visions, and ability to articulate tasks ahead of him.
Visionary skill is the definition of what a project manager is supposed to do to implement changes and share his visions with his team members. Questions such as; project objectives, how things get done, the vision of the project’s near future calls for active participation of team members and should be communicated before the start of the project (Barry 2009; Reh 2010, p.1).
In my opinion, I believe that sharing inspirations instill the spirit of change on team members and should be a collective process where team members are encouraged to share their visions.
Communication
Good communication is an important skill in leadership qualities. Barry (2009) argues that being able to relate to people at all levels requires clear communication skills about project goals, responsibility of team members, performance required and expectations benchmark at the end of the project period. In the widest sense, communication entails openness and directness and provides platform that links team members to the organization.
Essentially, effective feedback system is required for effective communication skills. The same analogy applies to negotiation and persuasive skills. In this regard, creation of explicit guidelines to serve as project benchmark is of paramount importance to ensure clear communication lines.
Integrity
Integrity is another example of skills and qualities of project manager. Since project leaders are expected to remember actions in regard to how their practically handled a challenging task. Barry (2009) states “project managers demand commitment to, and demonstration of, ethical practices” (p.1). In simple terms, having the propensity of creating standards for ethical behavior and living by them will be able to instill discipline in project execution.
Integrity can also be achieved by rewarding team members who exemplify good work performance. In summary, a project leader should execute leadership skills based on integrity, set values and shared vision. In layman’s language, an integral leader should ‘walk the talk’ and be consistent with his values and show honesty with his set principles as this may earn him trust in process.
Enthusiasm
Leaders with ‘can do attitude’ often keep spirits alive. In line with the popular belief that enthusiasm moves scales of mountains, project managers committed to their goals and express their commitment through optimism often influence team members to want to share their optimistic expectations.
Empathy
Barry eloquently puts it “It’s nice when a project leader acknowledges that we all have a life outside of work” (p.1).
Competence
Project manager should always show assurance of what he is doing. Barry (2009) argues that competence skills should incorporate technical ability of the core technology of a company. In essence having adequate knowledge of all aspects of an organization demonstrates successfully leadership skills.
Conclusively, a project manager should have ‘the know how’ of all aspect of the organization, he should exercise his expertise where needed, have what Barry states as “the ability to challenge, inspire, enable, model and encourage” (p.1).
Ability to Delegate Tasks
Trust is of paramount importance and should be established by a project manager to his team members’ right from the begging of the project. Trust can be exercised by allowing team members to execute their duties without controlling them. Also, encouraging input from team members allow them to fully participate in project management (Barry 2009, p.2).
The purpose of this essay is to understand qualities and skills of a project manager and therefore delegation of responsibilities with minimal supervision enables team members handle projects with ease. The ability to assign and delegate tasks according to team member ability and quality and trusting them team to do their work inspires confidence.
Cool Under Pressure
A project manager should be able to handle pressure with diligence. Obstacles such as close deadlines and small budgets can influence the outcome of a project and in this a project manager should be able to show his leadership skills and rise up majestically without showing his weakest side.
Team-Building Skills
A Team builder is someone who pulls and provides substance towards common objectives. In driving the dynamics required for transformation, skills and qualities of a good leader should be applied on each stage of team development. Building strong team cohesion requires understanding of each team player skills and capitalizing on their abilities to solving problems at hand.
Problem solving skills
A project manager should be equipped with problem solving skills that drive his team members towards the right objective. Therefore being able to share problem solving responsibilities with team members ensure projects run to completion. Barry (2009) defines an excellent problem solver to be “fresh, creative response to here-and-now opportunities” (p.3). In this regard providing solution to problems at first hand without referring to previous cases earns him respect (Kouzes 1996).
My future in Project Management
As a leader in my organization, I plan to practice good communication skills and allow openness and relativity in executing my duties not only as a leader but also as a team player. Two skills I plan to instill in my leadership role are honesty and loyalty; and passions and empathy. I will show my leadership skills by example; practicing what I preach. For instance, if I ask my team members to show up on time, plan to report to duty 10 minutes earlier than everyone else. In demonstrating passion and empathy, I will be able to understand my team members’ emotions and give them time-off to attend to family matters.
Plans to Develop further
Skills and knowledge are of paramount importance to project management. In this regard, I will ensure regular training facilities are availed to team members in different areas of their specialty to ensure quality projects. Irrespective of the amount of pressure, I will at all times remain composed and maintain good leadership skills in carrying out major aspects of the project.
Conclusively, reflecting good leadership skills and qualities requires careful assessment of clients’ demands and effective feedback system to ensure project objectives are followed to the latter. Coming up with back up plans such as emergency funds and disaster recovery plans and actively participating in project decision making process, while consulting other members in the project demonstrates good leadership qualities. Delegating work according to member specialty and realizing potential and skills of each one of them while offering incentives where possible ensure deliverables are of the best quality. Lastly, paying close attention to members’ complications and showing empathy while regularly updating the client on prospects of the project ensure work is done collectively.
List of Reference
Barry, R., 2009. Top 10 qualities of a project manager. Project Smart, 1, pp.1-3.
Kouzes, J., 1996. The leadership challenge. CA: Jossey-Bass Publishers.
Reh, J., 2010. Project management 101: Basic project management outlines. Aboutcom, 1, pp.1.