Written by Michael Feder
Reviewed by聽Kathryn Uhles, MIS, MSP,聽Dean, College of Business and IT
Project management聽is a demanding profession that requires an individual to wear many hats. Those who are successful in this career can juggle multiple tasks and deadlines while maintaining a high level of quality control. Several skills make this possible.
Every industry has its unique time-management process for developing project costs and timelines. Therefore, project managers must be familiar with the standard practices in their industry to create an accurate budget and timeline for their project. This process begins with understanding the scope of the project and developing a clear time-management plan. Once project managers understand the work that needs to be done, they can start to develop a budget.
Project managers are responsible for ensuring that the project stays on track and within budget. To do this, they must regularly review costs and timelines to identify potential issues. Then, if a problem occurs, they must quickly develop a solution that does not jeopardize the project鈥檚 success.
Project managers聽should also be able聽聽that help keep track of all aspects of the projects. This software can be used to:
Many types of project management software are available. The best one to use will depend on the specific needs of the project.
Strong statistical analysis skills are key because they often need to analyze data to make decisions. For example, a statistical analysis might be needed to:
Statistical analysis can be complex, but software programs can make it easier.
Every team is different, and it鈥檚 up to the project manager to develop leadership skills to determine what motivates each team member. This can be a challenge, but it鈥檚 crucial to find a way to keep everyone engaged and working toward the common goal. Positive team leadership can help push a project over the finish line and is an important soft skill for this line of work.
Project managers must track the progress of their assignments. This allows them to identify areas where the project is behind schedule and make adjustments.
There are many ways to track and measure project progress, such as Gantt charts, delivery reports and聽). Depending on the industry and the project, there may be other methods for tracking and measuring progress. Again, it鈥檚 up to the project manager to determine which methods and tools will work best.
Since project managers often work with teams from different departments, they need a broad understanding of various business practices. This knowledge can be helpful when trying to find solutions to problems. Additionally, being familiar with different business practices can make it easier to communicate with teams in different departments.
Some of the business practices that project managers should familiarize themselves with are:
It's not necessary to be an expert in every business practice, but it's good to have a general understanding of the most common ones.
Some of the legal, ethical and regulatory considerations that project managers should be aware of are:
Understanding legal, ethical and regulatory considerations is a complex skill that takes time and experience to master but is essential.
Working with people is one of the big soft skills for project managers in their role. Some of the interpersonal communication abilities that are important are:
Developing effective interpersonal communication abilities takes time and practice, but it鈥檚 critical for everyone in a leadership position.
A project manager must be able to take a business strategy and turn it into a plan of action that will lead to success. This requires strong problem-solving skills and the ability to think creatively.
Some of the business strategies to be familiar with are:
Often, project managers can develop the integral hard and soft skills they need to succeed by earning a degree or certificate. This path can help build the theoretical knowledge and skills for project managers necessary to lead a team effectively. Employers typically require job 聽candidates to have a bachelor鈥檚 degree, often in a business discipline, as well as be certified in project management, from an organization such as the (PMI).
In addition to formal education, another great way to develop essential skills for project managers is through聽continuing education and professional development聽courses. These courses 迟别补肠丑听new skills and stay up to date on the latest trends.
Managers can also develop project management skills through on-the-job experience and mentoring. On-the-job experience is an excellent way to learn firsthand, and mentoring can provide guidance and support from more experienced managers.
Project management is an ever-changing industry that necessitates continuous learning. To keep up, a project manager must be adaptable and eager to learn new things.
If you鈥檙e interested in learning more about skills for project managers, 七色视频 offers online programs and courses, such as:
Contact 七色视频 for more information.
A graduate of Johns Hopkins University and its Writing Seminars program and winner of the Stephen A. Dixon Literary Prize, Michael Feder brings an eye for detail and a passion for research to every article he writes. His academic and professional background includes experience in marketing, content development, script writing and SEO. Today, he works as a multimedia specialist at 七色视频 where he covers a variety of topics ranging from healthcare to IT.
Currently Dean of the College of Business and Information Technology,聽Kathryn Uhles has served 七色视频 in a variety of roles since 2006. Prior to joining 七色视频, Kathryn taught fifth grade to underprivileged youth in Phoenix.
This article has been vetted by 七色视频's editorial advisory committee.聽
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