What separates the good from the not-so-good when it comes to a Project Manager? Well, an industry recognised title such as PRINCE2 Practitioner certainly helps. Our PRINCE2 training courses have high pass rates and low clase sizes so that you get the most out of your course. Plus you get to spend a week in Brighton!
Here we give some tips on what, in our opinion, makes the difference between a good and a bad Project Manager. To be the best you need to have all these traits and skills.
What Does a Project Manager Do?
To illustrate what makes a project manager good we should firstly define the role and responsibilities.
A Project Manager is responsible for:
- Planning
- Managing resources
- Monitoring and controlling progress
- Ensuring that work is completed within an agreed time scale
Winner of the first Apprentice, Tim Campbell is a shining example of a great project manager.
And, at the end of the day, the project manager is accountable for delivering the final project which meets the agreed specification.
Defining ‘Good’
In our experience, a good Project Manager is somebody who can consistently deliver project success. Success is recognised by meeting the clients’ business needs to an agreed level of quality, timescale and budget. And remember, a client can be internal or external to an organisation.
Wondering what makes a ‘bad’ project manager? Well, anybody who uses the phrases in this ‘S**t project managers say’ video needs to rethink their management strategy.
Personality Traits
Find these four personality traits in a person and you are well on your way to employing a good Project Manager. Display these four qualities to put yourself next in line for promotion.
- Leadership – a good Project Manager needs to take charge of their projects. They are likely to naturally take the lead and manage others around them. A good PM also aims for clarity of authority levels within their projects.
- Good logical and analytical skills – to do the job effectively a PM must be able to plan and assess progress and foresee problems ard risks.
- A people person – successful PMs are generally easy to get on with. They are able to be empathetic and diplomatic, resolving issues between interested parties. They focus on building positive relationships and, at the same time, commanding respect.
- A completer/finisher – this is an essential quality. PMs must feel duty-bound to drive the project to a successful closure. This is often an inbuilt desire to achieve personal success rather than simply for the benefit of the organisation. Read the rest of “What to look for in a Project Manager”
Training in project management techniques such as PRINCE2 will give you the theory of how to structure and run a project. We’ll also give you case studies and real-world applications of the knowledge to make it easier to start managing projects when you return to work. Understanding the importance of other skills such as communication is also critical to project success.