Here's how you can hone the key qualities that make a Program Manager an exceptional problem solver.

Becoming an exceptional problem solver as a Program Manager requires honing a diverse set of qualities. By developing analytical skills, cultivating critical thinking, improving decision-making abilities, fostering creativity, and enhancing communication and collaboration skills, program managers can effectively tackle challenges and drive successful outcomes. Continuous self-improvement through training, practice, and seeking feedback is essential for refining these qualities over time. Ultimately, by mastering the art of problem-solving, program managers can navigate complex projects with confidence and contribute significantly to their team's success.

To become an exceptional problem solver, a Program Manager must cultivate curiosity and embrace adaptability. Cultivating curiosity involves asking probing questions, staying informed about industry trends, exploring different perspectives, and committing to continuous learning. Embracing adaptability requires staying flexible, developing resilience, empowering the team, planning for contingencies, and regularly reflecting on and iterating project strategies. Together, these qualities enable a Program Manager to uncover deeper insights, innovate solutions, and effectively navigate project complexities and uncertainties.

?? Developing exceptional problem-solving skills involves honing key qualities such as critical thinking, creativity, and resilience. Cultivate a proactive mindset, anticipating issues before they arise. Encourage a collaborative environment where team members feel comfortable sharing ideas and solutions. Stay adaptable and open to new approaches, learning from both successes and failures. Strengthen your analytical skills through continuous learning and practical application. Practice effective communication to clearly articulate problems and solutions. By fostering these qualities, you can excel in problem-solving and drive program success. #ProblemSolving #Leadership #ProgramManagement

Embracing adaptability is crucial in program management. Change is constant, so being open to new ideas and adjusting your approach is key. Here’s what works for me: Stay Agile: Be ready to pivot when necessary. Sometimes, the best solutions come from being flexible. Assess from All Angles: When faced with a problem, look at it from different perspectives. This helps in making well-rounded decisions. Modify Plans Based on Feedback: Don't be afraid to tweak your plans when new information comes in. This can lead to innovative solutions that a rigid approach might miss. Being adaptable has often led me to better outcomes and more creative solutions.

Key practices of developing EI include fostering self-awareness to understand personal emotions, practicing self-regulation to manage stress, and maintaining motivation through aligned personal and professional goals. Building empathy through active listening and effective communication skills are also vital. Continuous learning and seeking feedback help refine these skills over time and effectively navigate complex team dynamics.

EQ is absolutely essential in effective problem solving by first understanding and regulating self. For example a successful leader understands how they operate under pressure and what kind of stress threshold they can tolerate. It is also required to understand teams and stakeholders. For example it’s important to know people’s drivers and aspirations and how a leader can contribute to their achievement. Without this key skill, the leader is not in tune with his/her surroundings and may fail to connect with others especially during critical points in the program.

A major skill which brings about - 1. Max efficiency ?? 2. Enhanced credibility amongst your peers and managers ???? 3. Differentiate you from the rest ?? "Learning about SQL and ETL" and it's associated use in your organisation. There is nothing more powerful than having self-access to data without relying on business analysts.

Managing program (s) is no easy task, depending on the size, diversity, and complexity. The program manager needs sharp analytical skills to solve wicked problems to help manage and deliver the enterprise value. Since wicked problems do not have an ending unlike tamed problems, program managers must be able to continuously deliver and manage different variables concurrently.

More than 90% of the time is spent communicating. Apart from all the other must-have skills, communication skills are crucial in a program setting. The program manager is responsible for orchestrating a neutral and safe environment where team members learn to contribute and communicate freely and are respected. Communication is the glue that keeps the team together and well-informed.

Programs are often complex and require navigating many unknowns. It is hard to imagine that one person may hold the key to all the answers or that one person possesses all the skills required on a program. Collaborative teams are what is needed to run programs successfully. In a successful model, teams form the cornerstone for successful problem solving through brining to the forefront different perspectives. Teams can also follow a proactive approach to problem solving by contributing to retrospectives where continuous improvement becomes the concern of the entire team as opposed to one leader.

Program Managers seem to me like scientists who require continuous research and knowledge. Gone are the days when you could just acquire a certificate and consider it job done. In Program Management there is a vast sea of learning every single day. The approach I prefer is to identify one’s own issues and seek to mend the gap through techniques that range from formal education to seeking out the assistance of a mentor. This requires maturity in terms of acknowledging one’s own issues and in following a deliberate pathway to mend the issues. Program Managers cannot remain stagnant and the those who don’t seek to ‘upgrade’ for lack of a better term may not be able to navigate the complexities of programs in the the future

Be intentional with your continuous learning endeavors. Don't just pick random topics to learn or relook into something you already know. Identify your knowledge gaps and fill those areas by deep-diving into domains that are not your key strengths. Your future self will thank you for being proactive. To help you relearn and master your craft, teach it to someone else and bounce off ideas. Knowing is not enough, we need to practice more often and challenge some biases.

A program manager is essentially expected to leapfrog the team by setting them up for success and unblocking them. Anytime your team is blocked here are a few things that’s has worked for me in the past: -Ask ‘why’, not ‘who’ behind the issues. - problem solving techniques to find the RCA like 5 why’s, Pareto, fishbone etc - Back your subjective instincts with data and observations - Draw inferences along with your team - Action planning and probably split them to short & long term with indicators of success - Be open to course correct if realised the need

This is superb, If I may add to it, "Ensure to have preventive steps so that the issue doesn't occur again. If in case the issue can reoccur, then have a plan for quick recovery."