Essential Skills for Successful Project Managers

 Essential Skills for Project Managers

Managing a project is challenging. But if you can master these five skills you're well on your way to project success.

1. Planning

Every project manager has to become a great planner. You need to plan your project, the tasks entailed, resources, equipment and materials needed. Create a bullet-proof Project Plan and schedule at the start of each project and measure progress daily.

You also need to plan your team's activities for the week and check that those activities are being completed on schedule. You job is to feed your team with work from your plan, and then track and measure progress.

2. Prioritization

Every day, your team will struggle to manage priorities because there will always be too much to do. Your job is to give them crystal clear priorities every week. It keeps stress levels low and helps them work efficiently.

Without clear priorities, your project will be like a ship without a rudder - coasting along inefficiently without a precise direction in mind.

3. Delegation

You can't do everything. You might be capable, but there won't be enough hours in the day. So you need to become a great delegator. If tasks arise that others can do, delegate them. Your job is to keep the ship on its course, not man the engines. Delegate even small items, as they still require attention and focus. Delegate even when you could do something better or faster than your team. Remember-you can't do it all.

4. Leadership

Great project managers are great leaders. They set the course, lead the team in the direction required, motivate team members individually and look after their welfare. Great leaders know what it is that motivates their people.

They put them in roles they enjoy and are naturally talented. They listen and they genuinely care. To inspire your team to achieve success, you need to become a great leader.

5. Communication

Communication is a critical success factor. You have to constantly communicate the goals, timeframes and expectations to your team.

Provide feedback to your team as progress happens.

Tell people directly where they are going right and where they need to improve. Communicate clearly and concisely. Follow up in writing when it's important.

So that's it. If you can plan, prioritize and delegate your work as well as communicate and lead, then you will become a top notch Project Manager.