Marjorie AndersonDirector of Community| Product SchoolNewtown Square, Pa, United States
I recently read an article that suggested that project managers should consider adding sharpening communication and soft skills to the top of their professional development list for 2015. I would think that this would be a given, but, then again, my track record for making correct assumptions isn't all that strong. So I figured who better to ask than the experts themselves? When you think of developing yourself as a project manager, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Do you think that soft skill development sometimes takes a back seat to technical skill development? If so, why do you think that happens? Saving Changes...
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Bernard GorePortfolio, Programme & Project Professional| NZ PoliceWellington, New Zealand
You are right that it SHOULD be a given, but so often it is missed. I've come across many PMs who are excellent in the technical and procedural aspects of their profession, just don't have the communication and other soft skills to match, and therefore generally struggle. Saving Changes...
Dr.Vijayakumar RamasamySenior Project Manager| RnD Project Management/NPIKuala Lumpur, Malaysia
I do believe, for a PM, soft skills supersedes tech skills. Not denying the need of tech skills as there are companies that mandates tech skills for PM where they name the post as technical PM or engineering PM.
Soft skill should have the upper hand else the organization could just appoint a technical manager to run project instead of a PM. Saving Changes...
Ajay RaoProject Manager| Wipro LimitedBangalore, Karnataka, India
Project managers spend a lot of time communicating and soft skills play a big part in communicating, building & maintaining relationships in a project environment. Hence, Communication is also one of the knowledge areas in PMBOK. A PM should develop skills in all knowledge areas, but more importantly on areas where development is needed. Saving Changes...
