Managing projects can be both a stressful and rewarding experience. What makes a good project manager? Is it a blend of understanding people and the right level of pressure to apply and when? The skill to read between the lines and carefully negotiate relationship minefields?
From my perspective- successful project managers exhibit the following traits:
Results-oriented, can-do individual;
Good head for details;
Strong commitment to the project;
Aware of organizational goals;
Politically savvy;
Cost conscious;
Understand business basics;
Understand needs of staff, customers, and management;
Cope with ambiguity, setbacks, and disappointments;
Good negotiating skills; and
Appropriate technical skills. Capable of building teams with the following characteristics:
clear and realistic goals;
well-defined deliverables;
a proper mix of skills;
a proper level of education/skills among team members;
adequate tools to do the job;
Discipline (e.g., a communication plan, regular meetings, well-defined documentation);
cohesion and the capacity to reach consensus readily;
a structure that is appropriate to the work that needs to be done;
the ability to integrate diversity;
the ability to achieve the desired results; and
the ability to work with customers effectively.
