The 90% Factor

“90% or more of an effective project manager’s time should be spent on communications related activities…” - PMBOK 6th edition.

If you are a practicing project manager, the takeaway for you is that your "work" as a project manager is not the "doing" of the project, but communications-related activities: building teams, leading teams doing the work, engaging stakeholders, negotiating project agreements, managing conflict, empowering team members and stakeholders, addressing and removing impediments, mentoring team members and stakeholders, influencing, collaborating, facilitating, and much more.

How important is it to develop your communications and leadership skills? Every project manager should aim to continuously develop and improve communication and leadership skills.

Here are a few tips for developing your communication skills:

• Prepare for every communications interaction. Know your “why” for the communications. General “whys” include: to inform, to persuade, to entertain, and to inspire. And sometimes, all of them at the same event.

• Know your audience. What are their expectations? How will you connect with them? What is in it for them? How do you ensure that they get value from your communications?
• Know the specifics of what you want to take away from the event. Ask yourself: what does success look like?
• Practice. Be intentional with all of your communications. Mentally practicing and rehearsing your interactions will make you better. Make every low-risk communications interaction an opportunity to practice for higher-risk interactions. For those significant interactions, consider role-playing.
• Seek feedback. Ask your peers, your team members, your customers, and your superiors for feedback. Consider that feedback for your personal development.
• Get out of your comfort zone. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Try something different. Experiment. Seek out those opportunities that stretch your limits. You can only get better and learn from every opportunity.
• Seek training and coaching. Consider training on communications, leadership, and presentation skills. Invest in a coach who invests in you. Consider joining a community (outside of your work environment) where you can practice and develop your communications and leadership skills in a safe place.

Invest in yourself by intentionally improving your communication skills. Not only will your projects and stakeholders benefit but you might discover your voice in the process.

Eddie Merla, PMI-ACP, PMP

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Training Schedule - Certifiably Project Minded (certify-pm.com)