Chapter 3: What are those core skills needed for Project leader and key don’ts?
When recruiting for the Baltic Portfolio and Project Management team, it is crucial to clearly define the core skills you expect from a candidate. These skills determine whether the expert will be a good fit for the team and SEB as a whole.
?Let’s be honest— the title “Project Manager” is widely used across various industries and contexts, leading to a diverse pool of applicants.
?The core skills that matter to me:
- Ability to structure complex topics in an understandable way—without unnecessary details. This is a way of thinking that is difficult to teach; a person either has it or not.
- Leadership skills—In our setup, project members are not directly assigned to us. Therefore, we must lead through informal leadership: inspiring, providing a broader perspective, fostering growth opportunities, and addressing barriers.
- Flexibility in all aspects—Adapting to changes in the organization, project stages, and external factors is essential. It is natural to defend a proposed setup, but we must first challenge ourselves: why is it not working rather than forcing it through?
?Red flags that raise concerns for me:
- A rigid, methodology-driven approach—Flexibility in adapting to real-world situations is key.
- Impatience — Project leaders must be highly goal-oriented—that’s why we are hired: to make things happen in the best possible way. However, this must be balanced with a mature mindset. The ability to stay calm while addressing challenges is crucial.
- Ego-centricity—I don’t see a Project Leader as someone “on top” of a project but rather as a facilitator, ensuring seamless collaboration. Ambition is necessary to manage complex situations and diverse stakeholders. However, trust and teamwork are earned. If a candidate answers, “I want to be on top of everything” when asked, “Why do you want to be a PM?”—that’s a red flag for me.
?Are other skills important?
Of course, but many can only be learned through hands-on experience. True project leadership seniority comes from actively managing projects. That’s why, as a department head, I continue to lead projects and programs myself—each one is unique and provides valuable personal growth.
What is your key decision driver when choosing a team member? Share your thoughts in the comments! ??
Thanks for bringing up this important topic. Lately, many crucial skills and competencies for me come down to resilience, which I describe as the ability to stay effective, productive, and professional in difficult times, challenging situations.
Project Management Team Leader | Portfolio, Program, Project Manager | Project Management Coach | PMI? LT Chapter Volunteer | PMP? | CSM? | CSPO?
1 周Dana Ivanauskaite Great post! Love your view on what skills are important for Project Leaders. I would like to suggest adding one more skill: Being a human and being able to create human connections ;)