What interpersonal skills should definitely not lack in Project Managers' portfolio? That is the question a recent article on pmhut.com focused on. Eleven crucial skills were identified.
1. Leadership
A leader is able to use individual strengths to the team's success. He inspires the team's by his vision.
2. Team building
Every team needs a leader who can develop it to be able to reach a proper performance. It means to communicate your expectations, be able to resolve conflicts and propose solutions instead of blaming people for causing problems.
3. Individual motivation
A Project Manager should know what motivates the individual members of his team and based his reward strategy on it.
4. Communication skills
The success of any project is based on communication. Therefore, it pays to follow a communication plan and count with even such items as cultural differences and different styles of communication.
5. Ability to influence
A Project Manager should use this ability in a good way - for better functioning of the team and the organization.
6. Decision-making
The right balance between a manager's independent decision-making and involving the team should be found.
7. Knowledge of the environment in terms of culture and politics
No project arises in a vacuum. The manager must be aware of the diversity of the specific environment and be able to use it for his project.
8. Negotiating
The basis of a successful negotiation is to know what you want and listen carefully to the other party to can find out what the other party wants. Only then you will be able to find the best solution for both the parties.
9. Ability to give trust
A project team must stand on trust. Its manager should be able to give members sufficient flexibility to enable them to fulfill their goals as they do best.
10. Conflict management
A Project Manager should take conflicts as opportunities and be able to transform them into team exercises focused on finding the best possible solutions.
11. Coaching
Each team member should feel that he can use his full potential. Formal or informal coaching can do a lot.
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