My first article on the Five Signs You’re Not Cut Out to be a Project Manager received so much feedback, I figured there is room for a few more. Let’s first revisit the initial list:
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- Like Technology More than People
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- All People, No Technology
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- Don’t Handle Pressure Well
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- Need for Constant Recognition and Praise
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- Shaky Problem-Solver
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It’s a solid list, but it definitely leaves room for a few more characteristics that would tell you that you’re probably not cut out to be a project manager.
Friends with Everyone
I liken this one to the mother who treats her daughter like her best friend but not like her daughter. Same goes with a father-son relationship. If you lose that position of leadership completely, it’s gone and it’s hard to regain. The most successful projects I’ve led involved teams comprised of solidly skilled colleagues, but none of my closest friends within the organization. When I have worked closely with co-workers that I would also consider ‘friends’, the results were never as good because that position of authority is grayed just enough to make things uncomfortable.
Lack Independent Thought Processes
This may sound a little odd, but what I’m referring to is someone who can’t really think for themselves. I ran into this type of project manager while running an enterprise solution implementation for US Airways. The project manager on the client side – the US Airways side – seemed to never have an original thought of his own. The only information he attempted to contribute during status meetings was info everyone already had in front of them from my status reports and issues/risks lists. We’ve all run into this type of individual before – the one who tries to sound valuable or on top of things by simply regurgitating information or agreeing quickly with everything.
We also know that does not make for a good PM. The rock solid PM has original thoughts, is aggressive with action and decisions, and works confidently moving forward toward project goals.
Customer-phobic
Since customer-facing activities are the most visible tasks that Project Managers perform, it is key that the PM be comfortable presenting to and sharing information with the customer on a regular basis. Projects can’t be run entirely by email…you have to pick up the phone and give the customer both good and bad information off and on throughout an engagement. Depending on the type of project, you’ll likely have to meet the customer face-to-face a few times, if not regularly, throughout the project as well.
PMs who are not 100% comfortable with this customer interaction need not apply. Your customer management and communication skills must be top-notch or they’ll eat you alive. And then request a new PM for the project….
Executive Management-phobic
The same goes for your own executive management. At some point, a PM is going to find themselves on a very visible project that has been raised to the level of their executive management for attention. Sitting in the office of the CEO having a conference call with the customer to resolve an issue (remember, customers can cry loudly!) is a very real possibility. If the thought of this sends you running for the hills, then being a PM – at least a Sr. PM – is not for you.
Not Good with Deadlines
This one is obvious. I should have already covered it, but I see that I haven’t. An individual who perpetually procrastinates and just can’t meet deadlines is certainly not cut out to be a project manager. Meeting deadlines is what a successful project is all about. And as the PM, the example has to be set – the bar has to be set high. Everyone on both project teams is watching and if deadlines aren’t important to the PM, then they won’t be nearly important enough to the other members of the teams. Deadlines will only be important to them in terms of keeping their jobs, not in terms of success on the current project.
As always, I’d like to hear your thoughts via comments here on this site. If you have additional signs to offer, we would all like to hear them and discuss them in this forum. Thanks.