Dissection of a Project Manager

A vast majority of industries and businesses have a need for Project Mangers; these are the people in the trenches day in and day out that help get the job done. Need a better definition? Wikipedia defines project management as “the process and activity of planning, organizing, motivating, and controlling resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals in scientific or daily problems.” Alright, so let’s chew on this for a minute; a project manager would therefore be responsible for achieving a particular project or set of project goals and/or objectives while making sure they work within the scope, time, quality and budget of said project. Sounds easy enough right? Well no, not entirely. A successful project manager doesn’t forget about the “scientific or daily problem” portion of that job description. To be a successful Project Manager there are a few characteristic and personality traits one must possess. Type A Personality, thick skin and incredible work ethic are among the top qualities a successful Project Manager really should have or acquire.

Let’s Talk About Personality. Everyone Has One, But What Type Are You?

What is a Type A Personality, and why is it important in project management? I am glad you asked. Typically, a Type A person is highly organized and extremely ambitious, which comes in handy obviously for managing paperwork, emails and seeing that tasks are completed in a timely fashion.

Other important merits of the personality are that they are typically truthful to a fault, meaning they will tell you how it is regardless of the outcome. Type A personalities are also status conscious, sensitive, impatient and at times they will take on more then what they truthfully can handle. With that being said the most important characteristics of a Type A Personality is that these people tend to be obsessed with time management, are proactive, and most assuredly workaholics. You can see how this makes a Type A Personality a great candidate for a Project Management position in any organization. Just take a look at Hillary Clinton and Judge Judy, those are some pretty noticeable Type A Personalities.

So You Have a Personality, But How Thick Is Your Skin?

Project Managers also must have what is commonly referred to as thick skin, and no, I don’t mean thick boned, heavy or over weight, stay with me here. I mean tough as nails, and able to withstand the burden and mental beatings that come along with managing a project from start to finish. On a typical day a project manager will need to correspond with a client or customer, as well as internal or external staff like developers, designers, contractors, writers, technical support and many other necessary personnel needed to see a project to fruition. With so many different personalities out there, it’s important that a Project Manger can handle the stress of keeping everyone in check and putting out fires as they arise. There will be days in which it feels like the Clash of the Titans and you will want to release your inner kraken but let’s face it, that doesn’t benefit anyone, especially the client or customer.

To Do, Or Not To Do?

Now let’s talk about the importance of work ethic, or lack thereof. You have the doers and the do nots; you have the workaholics and the clock punchers (those that simply punch in and punch out regardless of tasks). It goes without saying that in any business when you have someone paying for services, they simply do not care about who you are and how busy of a day you have had, they only care about their specific project and if it’s going to be completed on time. A successful Project Manger has a strong and well-groomed work ethic. They are task driven and time oriented. A good Project Manager will never let that time clock or work hours stand in the way of completing a project on time.

The Secret to Your Success As a Project Manager

Now that we’ve dissected the mentality behind a good Project Manger, we can understand what personalities, traits and merits to avoid when hiring someone to oversee important projects. Success can be defined by ones ability to set and obtain goals, and only those willing to set a goal high enough get to bask in the glory of true reward. A Project Manger needs to have the ability to focus on what needs to be achieved, how to achieve it successfully, and how to effectively get it done on time. When getting your lineup ready, the one you want batting clean up is a Type A, not easily offended, workaholic going to war for you. Let’s be serious, who is more likely to knock it out of the park; someone looking for that 9-5 just get by kind of job or someone willing to give up their 7pm dinner reservations to have that last minute cram session to button up the specifics on a project before it’s presented to a client?

Description about the Author:

Lance Bachmann is the Founder and President of 1SEO.com. 1SEO.com is a Digital Marketing Agency based in Bucks County, PA. The company is a worldwide leader in its industry, offering services that include Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Pay Per Click (PPC) also known as Google AdWords, Social Media Optimization (SMO), Email Marketing and Website Design and Development. Their clients range from local, national to international businesses. For more information about 1SEO.com, follow them on LinkedIn.

As the Founder and President of 1SEO.com, Bachmann’s responsibilities include establishing all goals and strategies that preside over the entire company, ensure departments meet individual goals and responsibilities through weekly training and education sessions, as well as oversee both the maintenance and growth of 1SEO.com’s client base. As a company, 1SEO.com is dedicated to achieving success for their clients' internet marketing campaigns. They revolve their business around maintaining complete client satisfaction.