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

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.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.

Key Skills

A good Project Manager is able to:

• identify and apply the most appropriate skills or tools for the project from their personal and team resources
• recognise the requirement, and have the ability to obtain, additional external resources if necessary
• plan with confidence, predicting likely obstacles
• remain calm and positive and resolve issues as they arise
• take an overview of the project as a whole
• clearly identify and express their vision throughout the lifespan of a project.

From Good to Great

We’ve discussed the personality traits and skills that make a good Project Manager. But what makes a good Project Manager great?

Communication – a great Project Manager is able to communicate on all levels. They remain able to bridge the gap between users and suppliers. They are also able to communicate precise expectations to their team members. This is important to meet specific, sometimes escalating, requirements.

Lateral thinking - a great Project Manager should be able to think outside the box. Their gift for foresight should help them look down the project timeline and make rational predictions, founded upon practical assumptions. They are able to strategically forecast what impact probable circumstances can have on delivery and think outside the box on the occasions when issues that arise need an alternative solution.

Anything to add?

We’ve told you what we think makes a good and great project manager.  Do you look for, or have, any special personality traits or skills that make for a GREAT Project Manager?  If so, let us know.

Similar posts you may like:

1. How to Avoid Project Management Failure
2. Project Management Means People Management
3. Communication Skills in Project Management
4. The Philosophy of Project Management
5. How to Keep Calm When Projects Go Wrong

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