You need to a handful of skills to be a successful project manager
46% of organizations still do not understand the role of a project manager. This is shocking! To be a successful project manager, you need to have a handful of skills, experience and some talent. You must possess great writing skill, deep knowledge when it comes to technology and the ability to manage budgets. On top of all this, you must have good customer relations plus know how to lead your team.
If you feel like you do not fit this criterion, fear not for I have compiled six of the best skills that you could learn so as to be the best possible project manager that you can be.
1 – Understand The Project
80% of projects are led by a certified project manager. This, however, should not worry you. For you to be a successful project manager, you need to know the project in and out. You must know all the parts that go into making the project successful. If there are any types of equipment that are to be used during the project, make sure that you know all of them and their specifications. Know how many people go into realizing the project and what their roles are. Know exactly what time to start and when to stop.
If you feel like this is too much, then start small by understanding the little parts and as you go up the ladder figure out more complex concepts of your project. Break things down to their most fundamental state and build from there. This will assist you in understanding the project much better.
2 – Be Calm
Being a leader means that you’re the sane one at all times. The boat could be capsizing and people are screaming all over the place but you’re the calm figure that people are looking up to for direction and hope.
Sometimes, things will go wrong during the project and you want to have a calm face in front of your team so as to show that things will be okay. If they sense any fear in you, chances are they’ll panic and things will get much worse.
Stress will always be there but the fate of the project will always be in your hands, whether it fails or succeeds. If you feel like things are falling apart, go to a room or somewhere private, compose yourself, do what you need to do – whether scream or hit something. Then come out and lead your troops like the general that you are!
3 – Motivate Your Team
As a leader, you are as good as your team and you want them to be motivated to work for you for a long period of time. If they feel like you care about them and motivate them, they will work much better and the results will be staggering.
Keep in mind that some people require more encouragement than others. If you see one part of your team falling behind, then it’s your duty to get them back on track without upsetting anyone. If a milestone is reached, make sure that you celebrate it and give credit where it is due.
4 – Set Goals
Having goals is key to every project, otherwise, you’ll just be doing stuff without any aim whatsoever. Set up realistic goals that you know your team can achieve. Make sure that everyone is well aware of what you’re trying to achieve.
To make this even more clear, break down the task into small tasks that have smaller goals and put emphasis that things have to go well at all times. If a mistake has been done, make sure that you correct it as fast possible, do not dwell so much on who made the mistake and why.
Push your staff into making sure that the big picture is achieved no matter what.
5 – Keep People Around
Some teams can be made up mostly of freelancers, which does not mean that you kick them out once they have served their purpose. You should keep them around as it is hard to build a cohesive team.
One of the elements that go into the success of a project is coming up with the right team. If the people and skills match, keep them for as long as you possibly can. The more stable you are as a team, the better your chances of success.
6 – Be On The Same Page
Whenever you have a meeting, don’t make it strictly business. Lighten things up fast and make sure that everyone is at ease. These people are like your family so treat them that way.
Chat for some time then get into the meeting, you will find that things will go much smoother, people will be more creative and they won’t be afraid to share their ideas. This way, you will achieve more success due to the variety of ideas that you will have to choose from.
You are the glue that keeps your team together, so come up with the right approach to make everyone feel included. After a meeting, sum everything up the way you would when writing a conclusion paragraph.
I hope that this will help shape you into becoming the best possible project manager. Focus on the things that I’ve highlighted, be the leader that you are, always keep calm and be the glue that keeps your team together.
Kevin is a professional educator and a private tutor with over 8 years of experience. He is also a content writer for various blogs about higher education, entertainment, social media & blogging. During his off time, Kevin enjoys traveling and cooking.
