Attributes of a Successful Project Manager – Part 1

In this three-part series, I’ll present Jason Charvat’s take on the attributes of a project manager as documented in his book “Project Management Nation: Tools, Techniques, and Goals for the New and Practicing IT Project Manager.

This basically another take or view on the two articles I’ve previously posted on this topic:

• The Characteristics of a Project Manager (that evolved into several parts)
• The Skill Set of the Project Manager – Another View (derived primarily from Gary Heerkens’ book)

ATTRIBUTES OF A PROJECT MANAGER

For about three years as a project manager, I failed to listen to my team members and came across as arrogant. The one thing I learned from experience is that right action gets right results and wrong action gets wrong results. This kept driving me compulsively to consider what attributes I needed to possess if I ever was going to be an outstanding project manager.

Project management, as a profession, has changed through the years and has produced many good project managers who have risen to higher levels, consulted world-wide, and often started their own organizations due to their broader understanding of business principles. Within the project management profession, a manager quickly becomes well-known in a very short period of time; clients identify those project managers who are good and those who cannot perform well. The following personal attributes demonstrate the profile of a good project manager:

• Self-confident
• Problem solver
• Good listener
• Able to gain the respect of the team
• An effective communicator
• Capable of reacting dynamically and making decisions quickly
• Considered a professional
• A team player
• Knowledgeable about project management

Project management consultants are normally distinguishable from other company managers by the following attributes:

1. Reputation. The project manager is well-known by name in his or her industry and is often called upon to deliver papers, case studies, and new concepts to this audience.
2. Experience. The project manager has sufficient experience and has completed many projects.
3. Leadership. The project manager possesses the necessary leadership skills to lead people.
4. Presentation skills. The project manager has the ability to communicate on all levels in order to inform about project status.
5. Expertise. A project manager is normally employed because he or she is an expert on the subject and can speak with confidence on any project discipline.
6. Professionalism. The project manager, who belongs to reputable project organizations, abides by a code of ethics specifically designed for the project profession, thus ensuring that clients, organizations, and society are able to entrust project managers with their daily duties.

In Part 2, we’ll further discuss other areas of knowledge and abilities that the project manager must possess to successfully lead IT projects.

Related posts:

1. The Attributes of a Successful Project Manager – Part 3
2. Attributes of a Successful Project Manager – Part 2
3. Skills of a Successful Project Manager
4. The High Road
5. Five Signs You’re Not Cut Out to be a Project Management Consultant