3 Important Characteristics of Successful Project Managers

If you are a project manager and desire to be highly-sought-after than you need to know what companies are looking for in a PM.

Here is a list of the three most important characteristics a strong PM should possess.

a.  You should be trusted by your team.

Managing a project can be difficult. Winning the trust of your team can be even more difficult.

It all comes down to two core values: Transparency and humility.

Great project managers understand that their teams will perform at a higher level if they can openly share their mistakes with the group, and not be afraid of the repercussions.

Of course, this is assuming that they are willing to learn from them.

A big part of making this work is leadership by example.

Live and work alongside your team, show them you are with them, that you are human, and that you make mistakes as well.

If you take the time to be vulnerable, explain how a mistake happened, and openly analyze how it can be avoided in the future, your team will begin to trust you and follow your lead.

This will build trust across the board and establish a stronger connection between you and your team.

Also, you will begin to see your team in a new light.

You will gain understanding into who they are as individuals: their skillsets, their mindsets and what motivates them

b.  Being able to understand the task at hand and communicate effectively

A key feature of a good project manager is to understand the business need or overall task at hand and communicate this effectively down to the software development teams.

So many projects are started and finished by teams who fail to understand what they are building and why.

This usually ends in a software development team completing a project that does not meet the requirement or fails to solve the business need.

Take time to get everyone on-board with the “why” to make sure they understand the purpose of the project and how it fits into the big picture – how the end result will impact actual business goals, needs, and outcomes.

A great project manager knows how to root out the actual business need from stakeholders, and then ensure their team stays on track to the finish line.

c.   Adaptability to change and company culture

Change is inevitable in organizations that are growing and thriving.

To implement change, it is important to understand company culture, habits, skillsets, tools, and teams.

Avoid a one-size-fits-all approach to leadership and respectfully adapt to your organization for the best results.

Thank you,

Azeem Marediya