There are many abilities and traits that you are obligated possess if you intend to be a successful project manager, and one of your duties is to constantly improve your knowledge and skills in order to execute your projects. It can be hard to be a good project manager, but you should strive to be a great manager, and because of that, we are offering you a list of things you need to work on, if you are planning on being the best there is.
Natural leader
This is probably one of the more important things, and it will help you in many situations in your everyday life, but first, it will be important to know the difference between a project leader, and being a project manager. Both of these jobs involve making sure that all the tasks are being done, and that the project is going the direction it is supposed to. The difference is somewhat explanatory in the name itself - the leader prepares the people for their roles and different situations that are not necessarily within their experience, and is good at motivating people, whereas the manager only works within the boundaries set by those people and can manage their skills, their time, and he or she will only apply solutions that are tried and true. When you really understand this difference, you’ll understand that while project leaders are more idealistic, you should be more pragmatic.
Quick thinker
It is really a respected trait, to be able to make decisions in a matter of seconds, or to be able to think on your feet. Even though we make these kinds of decisions every day, we are only aware of them when we are in a situation when we understand their importance. With a lot of experience or knowledge, you can overcome situations where you would typically “freeze”, or when you are unable to find a solution. Critical thinking is essential, and in order to do that, you will need to quickly prioritize, and separate things that are important from those that are not. In any given situation, a project manager can be overwhelmed with the number of smaller things that can cloud your judgment, so you will first need to establish a set of criteria that will determine what is critical and what is not. After a while in this job, you’ll be able to follow your gut instinct and make a good decision, no matter what.
Not afraid to ask or take advice
The difference between a good project manager and a bad one is the ability to admit when something is above his or her head, and when they ask for advice from someone more familiar with the topic, or someone with more experience. Even if you are under a lot of pressure, first of all, because you want to succeed no matter what, it is always good advice not to endanger the whole project with one bad move. So, even when asking for advice, make sure to know all the things that could impact the decision, so that you have all the information needed for someone else to help you. Being prepared is part of your job, and that is something you will never overdo in this area, and the biggest mistake you can do is to try and solve a problem, asking someone for help, and not knowing all the details. Most people are simply too proud to ask for help, and this stems from confidence, which is, in essence, a good trait. But, too much confidence can easily blind you, and it will lead you to making bad decisions.
Able to predict
No, we are not thinking about being able to predict events in the far future, since a great project leader should really be able to instantly think of all the most possible outcomes, and see which one is most likely. This ability relies on common knowledge, but also on your experience and intellect. This can be developed over time, though great experience, or through an extensive learning process, but another important skill to have, in addition to this one, is understanding, as not everyone will be able to understand what you are talking about, or how you are able to see something, so make sure you explain how you see what you do. A perfect project manager would be able to complete all project before the deadline, with a budget to spare, and no problems are left along the way. Therefore, knowing what could arise as an issue is a necessary skill, so being cool under pressure, and seeing one step ahead will only help you.
Being competent
In order to determine why someone is good for a certain task, and whether someone will be able to perform under a certain set of situations, a project manager will need to know an extremely long list of criteria. A project manager can be recognized by his peers, or simply by having great previous knowledge, which prepares a person for all the challenges this job might present, so getting that PMP certification training might not be such a bad idea. A great training, good set of skills, and the constant need for improvement will certainly create a great project manager that can thrive in stressful situations, and who can get a broader view of things and the possible impacts on the business. Keeping things organized and in their place is a prerequisite for the whole job to rapidly evolve and adapt to the ever-changing market. Having a strong sense for business will not hinder you, and you, most of all, will have to have a strong vision and you will follow it to the end.
Article By : Ivan Dimitrijevic CEO & Co-founder at MyCity Web
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