Pre-requisite Skills for Project Managers

In a LinkedIn Live session with Bob McGannon, someone asked, “What pre-requisite skills are needed to qualify for consideration as a project manager?” While there are many valid answers, here are skills Bob and I look for in project management candidates.

• Great communication. Project managers constantly communicate, verbally and in writing. Effective communication skills are paramount for project management.

• Relationship building. Project management is a relationship business. Although tools and processes help a project manager, they require working with people. From team members to senior leaders, members of the public to members of the Board, project managers need to leverage positive relationships to be effective. 

• Highly organized. Project management requires coordination among numerous tasks, people, strategic and operational objectives, finances, and communication expectations, to name a few. A project manager’s days are varied and full of challenges and queries from management. Project managers need to keep things organized to respond to the day-to-day demands of the job.

• Keen intuition. Keeping track of everything that a project manager needs to understand can be a monumental challenge. Although tools and exception management help, having a “nose for trouble” can be invaluable. Tools don’t always expose issues early enough to identify the ideal response. Individuals who can sense issues with team members or project tasks possess an invaluable skill for project management. 

• Juggling capability. Good project managers resemble parents who can conduct a conversation on the telephone, respond to one of their children’s needs, and make dinner at the same time. Although multi-tasking isn’t ideal for productivity, jugglers can focus their attention on multiple things and respond when needed. Given the myriad demands placed upon project managers, good juggling skills are helpful.
• Appreciation for detail AND the big picture. Effective project managers understand the required level of detail needed to deliver their projects. They also understand how their project’s requirements and outcomes fit into the overall business. An appreciation for building (or working with others to build) everything from a detailed project task list and schedule to a high-level business case abstract is vital for success.

Have we missed something in this list? Add a comment to share the skills you feel are required for project managers and let’s get a discussion going.

For more about project skills, check out my Project Management Foundations course.

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