5 Qualities to Look for in a Great Project Manager
Have you ever wondered – beyond the traditional descriptors of good communicator, organized, or great at time management – what makes a great project manager? Of course you have! Which is why we put together this list of 5 things we look for in any project manager.
1. Ability to ask the hard questions
Ever wonder why it’s not good cop/good cop? Because sometimes someone has to be the bad cop. Or at least in this case the “ask the hard questions cop”. Without this important quality deadlines can end up being missed, invoices can go unpaid, and projects can fall apart.
2. Empathy
Empathy is an often overlooked quality of a project manager. It’s important that a project manager is able to not only understand the feelings of their clients and their team, but also how to manage those feelings. After all, emotion is a driving factor in decision making. If your project manager has mastered the skill of empathy, then they have a lot more control over the decisions their clients are making.
3. Negotiation skills
Deadlines, project scope, budget… The list of things you may have to negotiate with a client (or even your own team) can be endless. What makes a successful negotiation tactic can vary from client to client and person to person. This is where really knowing your customer profile will come into play.
4. Honesty
No one likes a bullshitter, especially in business. The old adage “honesty is the best policy” still rings true today. Honest and open communication allows for relationships to grow and thrive. It also allows for parts of a relationship that aren’t working to be addressed and fixed. The truth may sometimes hurt, but you’ll still have to tell it.
5. Rational thinking
Clients think big, agencies think big, project managers need to think rationally. That doesn’t mean that they can’t also think big, but they need to take the limitations that a project may have into consideration (like time and budget) and make sure rational thinking is applied in the strategy. The last thing you want to happen is over-promise and under-deliver.
So there you have it. The five qualities to look for in a great project manager. If these qualities all sound like something you possess, check out our job openings to see if you’re a good fit for our team.
Do you have other qualities you look for in a project manager? Share below!
