Does a Good Leader Really Make a Difference?

 

President Harry S. Truman said, "Men make history and not the other way around. In periods where there is no leadership, society stands still. Progress occurs when courageous, skillful leaders seize the opportunity to change things for the better."

I don't think it matters whether you are talking about political leaders, military leaders, or project leaders, there are a number of traits that successful leaders share:

1. A collaborative management style: Engaging the team and stakeholders in problem-solving and decision-making is critical for work management success.
2. Adaptability: Project teams and individual projects are always different. Successful project managers are able to adapt and overcome the challenges new projects present. A fluid project management approach is a very effective method for managing project-based work.
3. "Figure-it-out" resourcefulness: This implies creativity and occasional out-of-the box thinking to solve problems along with a tenacious, never-give-up approach to overcoming obstacles and resource allocation issues.
4. Highly-developed communication skills: It's paramount that project leaders are able to effectively communicate with stakeholders, project teams, and their peers. If project leaders are unable to customize their communication style to the appropriate audience, success will be elusive.
5. Flexibility: Adapted from a line in "To a Mouse," by Robert Burns, "The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry." No matter how well a project is planned, there will always be something or someone that throws a monkey-wrench into the works. Flexibility is the genesis of creative thinking—which is critical for project success.

Are there any skills you would like to add to the list?