7 Important Skills for Project Managers

In today’s service-based environment, success largely depends on how successfully

you complete projects and create value that sustains for a longer period of time.
According to PMI’s Pulse of the Profession Report”, it says that organizations are losing
close to USD 109 million for every billion dollar spent on projects and programs. There
are many projects that fail due to various reasons, but we are here to address building
the right skill set for greater project success and successful projects need skilled project
managers and teams that are supported by proper project sponsors. Below mentioned
are few critically important skills required for one to become a complete project manager
and achieve greater project success.
1. Project Management Skills:
This has to be an obvious choice, today no project runs without a project
management methodology. Everything and anything is project and there are
various project management approaches such as PMBOK, PRINCE2, XP,
Agile and Kanban etc., that come to the fore during project execution. Most of
these methodologies have their own set of processes which helps the project
from the beginning to the successful completion of the project. Which
methodology to choose, usually depends on the project manager and the
team handling the project and which approach they are comfortable with.
2. Project Environment Skills:
A holistic progress is possible if project managers can lay focus on creating a
project-friendly environment in an enterprise. We are not talking about
physical environment with regards to infrastructure, tool, techniques,
resources etc. But, we are talking about creating an environment where
interrelationship between project managers, the team, project sponsors and
other key stakeholders is at an optimum level.
With ever so increase in global projects, the people who comprise such
project teams are from multicultural backgrounds and a project manager
needs to assess the impact of culture on the project and be proactive to
create an effective work culture. Hence for this reason, it is very important to
 assess the current project environment that drives certain behaviors which
can then be addressed to achieve a higher success rate.
3. Embracing Green Organizational Skills:
Many might wonder what “Green” organizational skills are. The usage of
‘Green’ terminology in this context is about non-physical, intangible
relationships that affects our work environment among the workforce in an
organization. More of an informal organization structure based on
camaraderie where there is immediate response from individuals. The traits of
a green organization are:


o Constant support and trust among employees and senior
management
o A shared vision among the workforce
o Open communication channels
o Better cooperation than ruthless competition
o Where individuals views are respected and taken into consideration
o Where creative freedom is given to express themselves etc On the
other hand, toxic environment breeds through cut throat competition,
mistrust, failure to communicate, improper metrics and decisions
that are short-sighted. Even too much of red tape creates an
unfavorable project environment and breeds dissent and frustration
among the workforce. Hence, project managers who embrace green
organizational skills can bring harmony and strive together to create
a project environment that empowers individuals to reach their
fullest potential and create a long lasting value for their projects.

4. Skilled Negotiator:
On many occasions your project goes from being good to great due to your
negotiating skills as a project manager. If you get it right, negotiating is fun
and with practice you can address your team and organization’s shortcomings
by your negotiating skills. People outside of their work environment negotiate
all the time, but when it comes to project, they shut shop and just get on with
unrealistic expectations which pull you and your team down.
Negotiating with your team, stakeholders and project sponsors will create a
win-win situation where during a project discussion it will yield better results.
 While negotiating, the other person can always say no to your argument or
may even come up with their counter proposal for the same issue that you
were discussing and reach a better consensus. Project managers have to
master their negotiating skills to ensure successful completion of a project and
create a long lasting value.
5. Building the Right Political Skills:
A project manager should understand the power structure in the organization.
A simple look at the organization hierarchical chart will give you an idea, but
how to get things done with those individuals goes far beyond that. The
presence of power among decision makers derives from legitimacy than from
authority.
Any enterprise performance for that matter depends on successfully
completing business critical projects. Every enterprise will have its own
political scenarios and what gets accomplished in an enterprise comes under
the acumen of power and politics. If you want to be an effective project
manager, then you need to understand the political context of the organization
and encourage excellence by managing up the organization.
It is important to properly assess the existing environment of an organization
and develop an effective political plan which acts as a foundation. By doing
this you will be addressing the power structure in the organization and identify
key areas to focus such as identifying critical stakeholders, performing
stakeholder analysis , developing a guiding coalition etc. A successful project
manager not only develops project plans but also creates a robust political
plan that helps hassle-free completion of business critical projects.
6. Sales Skills:
A successful project manager understands the continuous sales cycles during
the project’s lifecycle. You have to embrace sales to ensure you get the
necessary commitments from your stakeholders, customer and your team for
that matter. So pitch them a classic sales approach which covers benefits,
advantages, features and what’s in it for me etc.
As a project manager if you are able to know how to address ‘what’s in it for
 me?” for your stakeholders, team and customers, then your project will have
the least trouble during its lifecycle and you will be able complete them on
time and within the budget allocated. You may have to as well describe the
features of your product / solution. It would be even better if you ask questions
and then listen to them and tweak your sales pitch accordingly. Project how
these benefits will help the enterprise to gain a competitive advantage over
others and helps them to bag business critical projects.
7. Change Management Skills:
In an enterprise, change is inevitable and people who do not embrace change
will be left far behind from where coming back is a difficult prospect. Even
project managers do not like change unless it is their idea and want
everybody on their side. But, then you cannot move ahead if you are struck in
archaic way of doing things and expect to meet demands of the next
generation.
People resist change because:


o Fear of the unknown
o They were not involved in the decision-making process
o Because of tradition (where projects were run without a formal
methodology)
o It was badly timed
o Exposure to new and uncomfortable situations etc A successful
project manager will take into account all the above mentioned
reasons and incorporate effective change management techniques
to address it. You should be able to demonstrate the conditions to
change, make change happen and ensure they stick by it. Without
change it is difficult to move ahead and take your organization to the
next level.

Building greater project success depends on the individuals who are part of the project
and who incorporate robust project management methodologies. A project manager
who can integrate all the elements in an enterprise to come together and integrate skills
from multiple disciplines will achieve greater project success. There are infinite
combinations of skills that are possible, and as a project manager you should be open
to change so that it can happen around you and help the project achieve its greatness.