Under the Influence

  Leadership   ProjectsAtWork  

Project managers rarely have direct control over anyone on their teams; they don’t rule by decree. But good project managers do exert influence, which is more effective than making demands anyway. Strong leadership, with or without official authority, requires constant refinement of techniques and personal tactics. Here are five standards to keep in mind.

A common problem facing the aspiring project manager is the assumption that the authority to lead automatically translates to leadership skill. On the contrary, being given the authority to lead is much like being given the keys to a new car. The ability to drive it well is not included. Effective leadership requires constant refinement of not only personal tactics, but improvement of all aspects of one’s life.

Constant improvement can only come about through a good understanding of some of the basic tenets of leadership. Like any art form or skill, a solid grasp of the fundamentals can lead the way to exciting and innovative techniques. However, in order to effectively bend the rules in innovative ways, one must first have a mastery of them.

Election to the role of team leader can serve as a proving ground for the modern executive, and sometimes success is independent of the accomplishment of an assigned task. If the project is not completed in a manner satisfactory to the team, then one cannot claim …

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