A project manager is a liaison. One might say a project manager is a translator between people who speak different languages: some speak technical, like developers and QA testers; some speak creative, like designers; some speak business languages, like business analysts and clients. PM isn’t the only important person on the project, but the fact that he or she is the “go-to guy” – true.
A project manager is a specialist who combines skills and knowledge for successful project management. The fundamental qualities of good project management are:
- Constant studying
- Ability to solve problems and make quick decisions
- Ability to resolve conflicts
- Time management
- Critical thinking
- Stress tolerance
- Be an ace at communication
- Being optimistic
- Be culturally aware
- Delegating
These skills are needed to lead a team, so that team members trust you in planning and organizing the work process. Now let’s discuss them in more detail.
Constant studying
Managing a technical project and communicating with developers and testers is possible by understanding what they want to say. A project manager should be an interpreter between the technical department and the client. He must be able to intelligently explain the feasibility of the client’s requirements during the project discovery phase and desires from the technical side and correctly answer the questions of the developers, testers, and programmers.
You can make many mistakes by throwing yourself from one type of management to another or not using any methodology, just relying on chance and intuition. This can be avoided using management methodologies appropriate for the project: Waterfall, Agile, Scrum, and Kanban.
All of this requires constant learning. A project manager is responsible for many aspects of work, so his mistakes are very costly for the team and the project as a whole. If you are a newbie at project management, you should always have project management notes and guide at your hand to quickly get the knowledge you may lack. Constant studying is a must for the project manager because it is hard to be competent inside your team without it.
Ability to solve problems and make quick decisions
Risks, specialists do not have time to finish work, unforeseen circumstances like technical problems, weather, human factors, and other factors can disrupt terms or lead to exceeding the budget. Project managers should be subject to a cool mind, common sense, sobriety in situation assessment, and decisiveness in making decisions. The project manager’s decisions will help, if not to save the situation, then at least significantly reduce the negative outcome. Hence, to lead a team you need an experienced and skilled person to lead a team. So,, So, it’s necessary to test the job fitness of the candidate for the project manager role.
Ability to resolve conflicts
We are all human, we are all individuals, and each of us has his own principles that may affect the work and the team’s relationship. But this should not sow the seeds of discord in the team or create a tense environment. The project manager’s task is to create an environment where each specialist can work to his or her full potential.
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Time management
Time management is one of the mandatory qualities of a project manager. If you are used to not having enough time for everything, you are always late for everything, and you are rushing around, then congratulations – you need to develop this skill. A project manager has to organize not only himself but also the work of the team, processes, deadlines, and sometimes the client.
Critical thinking
Critical thinking will be needed to filter the flow of information because not everything said exactly will be irrefutable fact and reliable information. Project managers must be able to ask questions, check facts, and analyze the information to look at things objectively.
Stress tolerance
Stress tolerance will help you think through problems calmly and come to a solution without unnecessary emotions and breakdowns.
Be an ace at communication
Exactly project manager negotiates with clients and all stakeholders, organizes meetings, and can agree on dates, resource allocation, risks, unforeseen costs, etc. He or she must create a warm and friendly atmosphere within the team and be able to negotiate with each of its members.
Being optimistic
Being optimistic, even when things are tough, so as not to demotivate other team members and not to reduce their performance, even during a difficult project period. Try to provide positive criticism while filling out a performance appraisal.
Be culturally aware
This is especially acute for companies with foreign clients or specialists from different cultures. The difference of cultural differences and customs can lead to misunderstanding, conflict, or even an insult to a person’s feelings. This is especially important in industries where you’re interacting with people from diversere background. For instance if you’re doing real estate networking, it’s better to air on the side of polite caution when talking to new potential clients
Delegating
A sound understanding of your team members allows you to delegate duties to suitable individuals for the most pleasing results. Team members will react well to a manager who delegates appropriate tasks well suited to their skillset and subsequently trusts them to get on with it.
Conclusion
A project manager does not have one particular list of tasks. During his/her career, a project manager communicates with a client, controls risks, controls time, resolves conflicts, and handles documentation. While talking to an investor, he or she should have in the head the complexities of the design, and at the same time, remember that after the meeting, he or she should arrange to have the computers repaired for the office.
