A project manager is someone who is responsible for the planning and execution of a project. Their job is to make sure that a project is completed on-time and
on-budget. To do their job well, they must also be very good at managing people. The role of the project manager is forever evolving. In todays world, the
skills needed to be an effective project manager is changing as we are confronted with new technology, new ways to work and new methods of communicating. In
todays world, a project manager must be not only technically inclined but also open and willing to look for technical solutions to make their projects a
success. The skills required for project management are many, but many that most of us already have. Here are the fundamental ones:
1. Communication
This is the most crucial skill for any job, not just project management. Being able to express yourself clearly to your team in a positive and direct way is
a skill worth perfecting.
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2. Conflict Management
This particular skill is important because projects are often fraught with conflicts. Conflicts over resources, conflicts between team members, conflicts
with stakeholders – the list goes on. Murphys law comes to mind when there is a big project to be completed because of the pressure to finish on-time:
everything that can go wrong, will. Thats when you step in with your super powers and make things all better so that the project can move forward.
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3. Political Savvy
Being political is not a bad thing. It means saying and doing things in a way to get what you want from everyone around you. From your team, vendors and
stakeholders, and bosses boss, you should know how to manage all of your professional relationships.
4. Stakeholder Management
You need to know what matters to your stakeholders so you can deliver the right information when needed. Its important to understand their expectations and
how to manage the ( ie. underpromise and over deliver) and how to communicate with them in the most effective way possible.
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As a project manager, the majority of your time is not spent planning or analyzing. Its spent managing your team. If your team doesnt see you as a leader,
they wont take you seriously. If they dont take you seriously, you can bet they wont take your project very seriously either.
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