I stumbled on this article and i felt i should share;
Leading people - the experiential side of project management - is as important as task-based skills according to project managers in Europe, the Middle East, India, America and Australasia.
In recent research, they said that communication is a critical skill for project success, both for keeping team members up-to-date and for winning the support of key stakeholders.
But which skills make all the difference? Here is what the top five respondents say have made all the difference in their careers.
1. Active Listening
In first place is our ability to listen to and understand others. Listening to the words and the meaning behind their words, not interrupting or letting our minds wander, asking questions to check understanding and observing non-verbal signals.
According to Indian project manager Nirav Patel, CAPM, The benefits include getting people to open up, and due to that lots of misunderstandings and conflicts can be resolved.
2. Building Relationships Based on Trust and Respect
Trust and respect are the cornerstones of personal relationships. They are earned, not a right, and come from an experience of our honesty, integrity and expertise.
Among the characteristics people used to determine our credibility are truthfulness, openness, willingness to share ideas and information freely, consistency, reliability, loyalty, capabilities and competence.
Trust encourages people to propose ideas, suggest ways to enhance work, speak about their concerns and give advice, says Dubai-based Kareem Shaker, PMP.
3. Setting Clear Priorities
In third spot is a project manager's ability to convey the strategy for their team - by setting goals, planning and prioritising. We call this the what, who, when, where, why and how of the project. Team members should understand both the big picture and the lower level technical priorities.
Essentially this is what a project manager does. If you can't do it you won't get everybody working on the same page, says Australian Paul Rasmussen.
4. Enabling Collaboration
In a collaborative environment, team members support and encourage each other rather than focusing solely on their tasks and responsibilities. They are willing to co-operate and share information, ideas and assets to help each other. The result can be greater than the sum of its parts.
When we collaborate, we get the 1x1=3 effect. Things happen that might not have if people had remained focused on their work, says American Adam Michaelson, PMP.
5. Conveying the Organisation's Vision
Explaining the bigger picture helps team members understand where the project fits within the overall aims of your business unit and organisation. Senior executives focus on the triple bottom line - finance, environment, reputation - this is where they expect your project to make a difference. Saving Changes...
Being a PM is really about building and managing relationships while being a true leader and not simply being a "manager". There is a saying in some organizations; "we want managers and not leaders". Unfortunately, in too many organizations today, this is a very true. Many projects are doomed to fail before they even begin, simply based on the management culture within their organization.
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1 reply by Ajifowoke Olakunle
Feb 14, 2019 1:00 PM
Ajifowoke Olakunle
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This is very true as I learnt the hard way with my team member. I chose to be a leader rather than a mannger and allowed interpersonal relationship cloud my judgement in some occasions. Individual differences and cultural behavior of the team member can be diffcutl to mange’s.
I’ve chosen to be a better manager and a leader that motnivates
Being a PM is really about building and managing relationships while being a true leader and not simply being a "manager". There is a saying in some organizations; "we want managers and not leaders". Unfortunately, in too many organizations today, this is a very true. Many projects are doomed to fail before they even begin, simply based on the management culture within their organization.
This is very true as I learnt the hard way with my team member. I chose to be a leader rather than a mannger and allowed interpersonal relationship cloud my judgement in some occasions. Individual differences and cultural behavior of the team member can be diffcutl to mange’s.
I’ve chosen to be a better manager and a leader that motnivates Saving Changes...
