"So far, in recent articles, we have dealt extensively with customer management in projects. However, this time we allow ourselves to discuss the most important stakeholders in the integration process, which are the project managers themselves.
Project management is one of the most sought-after roles today in a wide range of fields beyond operations, construction, and infrastructure. It is a demanding role that requires relevant skills and abilities. The task becomes even more complex when dealing with project managers who handle multiple projects simultaneously and need to successfully deal with them every day (this point is crucial for customer-facing managers because they understand that their project manager may not always be fully attentive to them).
While the project's objectives may vary between projects and different organizations, all projects essentially involve the execution of a task that requires the involvement of stakeholders and partners within and outside the organization, as well as a lot of collaboration between them. This is done by detailing the project into tasks, setting clear timelines for project completion, and ensuring effective communication. On the other hand, a project manager's goal, in this case, aligns with the client's desires (hopefully). The task of a customer-facing project manager is to complete the project to the client's satisfaction by finding points of efficiency in the project to maximize profits and minimize costs for the client and protect their interests against market "sharks."
Project Manager:
The project manager is essentially the conductor of the project and the function accompanying it from beginning to end - starting from the planning stage, coordinating between the various factors involved in the project, monitoring project progress, adhering to timelines and project budget, and providing responses to challenges and problems that arise along the way. The project manager is also the responsible contact person for keeping the client updated, available for any questions or needs.
What are the required skills for a project manager?
Project management primarily requires knowledge and expertise in the field in which the project operates. In addition, there are various abilities and skills required of the project manager without which they will struggle to successfully manage the project:
- Leadership: The project manager needs to lead the project and navigate it towards success. To do so, they must be able to lead the various functions within the project.
- Systems thinking: The ability to see the big picture is essential. Systems thinking allows the project manager to understand the project's current status, compare it to the desired state, and progress towards the goal.
- Employee management and motivation: Is the project not progressing according to the timelines? Is an employee falling behind, causing a bottleneck? The project manager must be able to motivate employees and ensure they perform their tasks within the defined time frame.
- Interpersonal relationships and communication: Involvement in a project can lead to conflicts among team members. Therefore, it is important for the project manager to be a person with patience, capable of bridging existing gaps, minimizing potential conflicts, and maintaining positive and pleasant energy among all project stakeholders.
- High performance in stressful and pressured situations: The need to meet the defined project timelines can create stress and pressure among employees and managers alike. Additionally, unexpected needs arising from the field may require the project manager to "recalculate the route" and make adjustments and changes to the project. To succeed in their role, the project manager needs to have a high level of performance even when things don't go as planned.
- Control, flexibility, and responsiveness to changes: The project is a living entity, constantly evolving. The project manager needs to be "on top of things" and perform ongoing control of the project. One way to achieve efficient control over project management is through the use of advanced project management software that allows real-time monitoring of each employee's task execution and quick response to issues arising from the field. The more complex the project, with multiple tasks and team members involved, the higher the chances of encountering.
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