In this exercise, you will read a scenario and comment about how you would react to the situation. Then, you will list and describe skills that make a project manager successful. Start by considering the following scenario:
A co-worker is responsible for researching and providing you with a list of potential venues for a retirement party. For the last three weeks, they have been telling you they will complete the list by “the end of the week (EOW).” When you check in with them at the beginning of each of the weeks, they tell you they didn’t get around to completing it but that it will be done by the current week.
How might you influence this situation without authority? Write 2-3 sentences.
Communication Skills: Effective project managers must be able to clearly convey information, expectations, and feedback to team members and stakeholders. Good communication fosters collaboration and ensures everyone is aligned with the project goals.
Organizational Skills: Being organized helps project managers manage multiple tasks, deadlines, and resources efficiently. This includes using tools to track progress and maintain schedules, which are critical for meeting project milestones.
Flexibility: The ability to adapt to changing circumstances and unforeseen challenges is essential for project managers. Flexibility enables them to adjust plans and strategies quickly, ensuring project continuity even in unpredictable situations.
Write a list of the most valuable interpersonal skills required to be a successful project manager and describe how each skill contributes to a project manager’s success. Write and describe at least four skills.
Communication Skills: Effective communication is essential for project managers to convey ideas, instructions, and updates clearly to team members and stakeholders. Strong communication fosters collaboration and helps prevent misunderstandings, ensuring that everyone is aligned with the project goals. This skill also includes active listening, which allows project managers to understand concerns and feedback from team members, facilitating better problem-solving.