The Role of a Successful Project Manager For the best results, an effective project leader is often described as having a vision of where he is going and the ability to articulate it. Dreamers thrive on change and the ability to draw new frontiers. It was once said that a leader is someone who “lifts us to the highest level, gives us a reason to exist and gives the vision and spirit for change.” Visionary leaders enable people to feel that they have a real stake in the project. It enables people to experience their vision for themselves. They provide people with opportunities to create their own vision, explore what the vision will mean for their jobs and lives, and envision their future as part of the organization’s vision.
The role of a successful project manager
Telecommunications
In all elements of working life, the most common complaint about an organization is “lack of communication”. Project leadership requires clear communication about goals, responsibility, performance, expectations, and feedback. The project leader is also the team’s link to the larger organization. The leader must have the ability to effectively negotiate and use persuasion when necessary to ensure the success of the team and project. The Project Management Institute (PMI) suggests that a project manager spends 90 percent of his or her time communicating.
integrity
Call it honesty, integrity, or loyalty. The project manager needs to have them all. His actions set an example for the rest of the team. He/she is ultimately responsible for setting ethical standards for the rest of the team members. The project manager must practice what he preaches and in turn, earn trust.
Enthusiasm / Passion
We tend to follow people who have a can-do attitude, not those who are always negative, and give us all the reasons why we shouldn’t do something. Enthusiastic leaders are committed to their goals and express this commitment through optimism. Enthusiasm is contagious and effective leaders know it. A project manager without passion is, simply put, lacking in definition.
sympathy
Empathy should not be confused with compassion and empathy. Although the words are similar, they are opposite. Empathy means understanding. A good project manager needs to understand that there is life outside the workplace and that people are not machines without emotions. By doing so, he will develop a personal relationship with the team members which will serve as a tool to achieve better results.
Skill
The team must believe that the project manager knows what he’s doing. However, leadership competency does not necessarily refer to the technical capabilities of the project leader in the core technology of the business. With project management continuing to be recognized as a field in its own right, project leaders will be selected based on their ability to successfully lead others rather than technical expertise, as in the past. The ability to challenge, inspire, empower, model and encourage must be demonstrated if leaders are to be seen as capable and competent. It is also essential to recognize that you are not an expert in a particular field. Project management qualifications are highly recognized in this day and age and the knowledge of project managers is expanded even further.
delegation
The project manager should be able to delegate easily. He must be able to recognize the skills and experience of his team members and assign or delegate tasks according to them. Trust is an essential component of the relationship between a project leader and his team. You show your trust in others through your actions – how much you check and control their work, how much you delegate and how much you allow people to participate. Individuals who are unable to trust others as leaders often fail.
calm
There are times when things don’t go as expected. In such cases, the project manager needs to remain calm and composed no matter what level of stress he is under. A leader with strict behavior will take these troubles his way. When leaders encounter a stressful event, they view it as interesting, feel they can influence the outcome, and see it as an opportunity.
construction team
A project manager needs to be a good team builder. A team builder can be better defined as a strong person who provides the core that holds the team together in a common goal towards the right goal. A team starts out as a group of strangers and needs a core group of people. Keeping the team spirit alive despite the many problems in the implementation of the project, is another important characteristic that a project manager must-have.
solving problems
An effective project manager must be able to solve any or all problems, either with the team or the project itself. Team successful project manager members should trust the project manager to solve their problems but also involve the team in solving problems as well.