Sean WhitakerProject Management Consultant| Crystal ConsultingChristchurch, New Zealand
Hi, I know there are many articles and research that say that soft skills are the most important a project manager can have, but are they really? Can you give an example where your use of soft skills (i.e. communications, stakeholder management, leadership, decision making, team building etc.) really help a project? Or was there a time when your lack of these skills adversely impacted a project? Im curious about your experiences Saving Changes...
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Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
For me, soft skills are the hardest skills to adquire. Busines analysis and project management are 80% of art and 20% of science and soft skills belong to art. With this said, I firmly believe that the important thing is to understand our own strengh and weakness and create our own project management strategy. I found a lot of project managers that have been successful (getting the project objectives) with a high component of science and few component of art into their skills. And if you make some research (I am doing that from years) you will find that art and science are more closelly each year. Things that you could consider part of the art are explaining today by quatum physic and neuroscience. Saving Changes...
Drew CraigSr. Agile & Product Coach| VanguardPhiladelphia, Pa, United States
Very ...
Having dialogues with the Stakeholders requires an ability to get across the good and bad news, help with tough decisions, help to steer decision making in their best interests. In addition, PM should be empathetic to the project team and stakeholders.
I use these skills everyday, and like to reflect on my actions to always improve. Saving Changes...
Soft skills will go a long way in negotiation with the customer, stakeholders, development teams etc. Sometimes getting the right message across can save a lot of trouble while gathering requirements, defining scope etc. Communication is two-way and listening attentively is equally important! Saving Changes...
I cannot imagine project management without soft skills. A big part of the work of a project manager is the communication with the different stakeholders. The soft skills will ease the way with the stakeholders, as well as a lack may lead to a complete stop of the project.
It is important to me to understand with whom which way of communication is acceptable und effective, which is a part of soft skills. Saving Changes...
Wagner MeanaProject Manager| Istmo Tecnologia / ClaroSão Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
In some cases soft skills are more important than baselines. The project manager has to know how to work with the uncertainties, changes, different personalities of the team, different cultures, and little of this is in Project Management, is in the manager's skill. Saving Changes...
As was already pointed before soft skills are essential. It's impossible to lead a project without a great communication skills or proficiency in making decisions. Saving Changes...
Javier zumayaPM Consultant| Volkswagen de México S.A de C.VPuebla, Out Of United States, Mexico
I think the soft skills are the most perfect complement for an excellent project manager. Without this, you are only a "terms follower". By the way leadership is not a subject in college, is a matter of fact a soft skill. Saving Changes...
Anonymous
Without soft skills projects could be manage by robots!
That is what make a PM get more from the team, get stakeholders accept variations. Saving Changes...
