Whether you’ve made the decision to become a project manager or are just accessing your skillset, specific criteria are essential to be successful in this field. While many of the skills you’ll see listed here are necessary for any number of areas, most applicants for a project manager position should have these in spades. Take a look and think about which ones you may need to improve upon or even acquire completely.
LEADERSHIP
Leading a team in conjunction with managing them is the key to success in the business world these days. Actually, it’s a three-pronged attack. One should be able to inspire their teammates, set the vision for completion, and lead in an effective manner. Is this something you do well? Evaluate yourself honestly.
CERTIFICATION
If we’re honest here, a PMP certification is not required to become a project manager in many fields. However, statistical data and anecdotal evidence support the beneficial impact that PMP certification has for project managers and their employees. So, at some point, you’ll want to consider PMP Online training to guarantee success on the exam.
SCHEDULING
Whether you’re scheduling dates to take the PMP certification or delivering promised results by the deadline agreed upon, scheduling is a core PM skill. Having everyone on the same page and working towards the precise deadlines is a significant skill to have under one’s belt.
CRITICAL THINKING
Indeed, the PMP certification exam will test you on your ability to engage critical thinking, but making key decisions appropriately is at the core of it all. Weighing the advantages and disadvantages of various scenarios is one way to find the right path forward. By equipping you and your team with all the appropriate tools and having an open mind to various approaches, you can formulate arguments for and against multiple solutions before deciding on a course of action.
COMMUNICATION
Arguably the most crucial skill any project manager needs, communication is something everyone can work on from time to time. Especially in a world where so much of the communication is done via online meetings, email, and instant messaging, individuals are apt to fall short of expectations because we didn’t communicate with each other effectively or often enough.
TASK MANAGEMENT
Task management is a basic task all PMs should be quite adept at. While PMP training will expose you to the basics, only time and experience will make you truly successful at creating task lists, delegating work to team members, and staying on top of progress. If you’re not a natural-born list maker, develop strategies to make sure you’re always on top of your game. It’s also important that you help other team members excel at staying on top of their to-do lists as well.
Lastly, behind every good project manager is a sense of humor and the reliance on others to be patient, pick up the slack and, if possible, wait just one more day. Seeing the humorous side of things will keep everyone in good spirits, even when the chips are down.
