There are many skills and knowledge that a project manager needs to master in order to carry out his or her daily work. This is a work area where various professional fields come together. Keep reading and you will find out what it is all about.
A project manager is responsible for ensuring that a series of processes and phases are completed within a set time and within an approved budget to achieve a stated objective. Due to their work, we must know what it takes to be a professional of this type, as well as the skills they must have.
This is why project managers must make different decisions to control the risk of any project, minimizing uncertainty. They must have a minimum knowledge of various fields, since they work in areas as varied as technology, human resources, advertising and marketing, or even construction.
What does it take to be a project manager?
When inquiring about what a project manager needs in order to be able to carry out his/her work, it must be noted that this professional must know how to determine the needs of the client in order to establish the structure with which the project will be developed. Therefore, he/she must be trained in this area of specialization.
It is essential that you know how to handle the tools, knowledge and techniques required for project management , as well as how to define the structures to organize work, analyze critical paths and manage resources . You also need to have management skills and be able to handle the project environment. In addition, you must be familiar with the rules, laws and regulations established by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for project management. Therefore, you must have the PMP Certification and experience with the Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL).
In addition, this specialist needs to be an expert in various project management software , which are used to organize the team's tasks and to monitor the project phases. The graphics cpa email lists generated by these programs offer a comprehensive view of the areas that need supervision.
Learn more about: How to make a project schedule with the Gantt Chart?
Skills of a project manager
The project manager must be clear in order to create a project culture in his team, as well as knowing how to assign responsibilities and delegate authority to make decisions and achieve objectives. However, this professional must have or develop other skills, among which the following stand out:
Leadership. Obviously, this should be the first skill to highlight, since leading and motivating the team is essential in any type of project. The manager should always seek to stimulate the members so that they can implement the established plan and obtain the expected results in the most beneficial way possible for the requesting area or client.
Communicate effectively. It is essential that the manager knows how to communicate to his team what the goals are and the functions of each member of the project. He must constantly communicate with collaborators, suppliers, clients and management. Therefore, he must master effective communication both orally and in writing.
Negotiate. You need to agree with the client on the scope and number of hours of work for the project, as well as the financial, technical and human resources required, so the project manager must be an excellent negotiator. Of course, to be able to do this, he or she must know and understand how to keep those involved satisfied.
Detail-oriented and achievement-oriented. This skill allows you to do the job in the best way possible or even exceed the expected levels of excellence. Because this is detail-oriented work, the manager must be meticulous in managing the project and the impact that each aspect can have on its success. This will enable him to make better decisions.
Organize. The manager must organize his or her work and that of the team in order to complete all phases of the project. In many cases, he or she must even know how to handle several projects, processes or tasks at the same time. The key to achieving this is organization. To achieve this, he or she must pay attention to several aspects without neglecting any.
Problem solving. There are many situations or problems that need attention, so the manager needs to be ready when they arise and act immediately, preventing the project from being affected. He or she must quickly identify what is happening and make decisions to offer an effective solution, even in the face of differences between team members.
Develop and control the budget. Project management undoubtedly includes the management of the financial resources needed to carry out the work. All projects have an allocated amount of money, which must be calculated by the manager and then a budget must be drawn up and carefully monitored.
Likewise, the project manager must commit to training his team, so that each member has greater knowledge, is more creative, can take risks and is more competent to fulfill his responsibilities in the project.