So you want to be a Project Manager?
So you want to be a Project Manager? Let me start by reflecting on a conversation I had recently, it went something like this...
"...but if it all goes wrong, it will be the Project Manager's fault."
"Absolutely! And if it all goes right, everyone will take credit for it."
This is one of the challenges of being a project manager, when you are doing your job well, if often goes un-noticed. Doing the job well means that everyone involved will feel that they are part of the success. The skills you need are a mix of technical competencies and soft-skills. Good project managers are well organised, empathetic and a good communicator.
There are 3 areas of competencies that you should look to understand and develop to become or improve as a project manager.
- Technical
- Behavioural
- Contextual
These help you to understand what is expected of you as a Project Manager, but will also help the organisations you work with to understand the value a Project Manager brings. Employees should expect opportunities to develop these skills, but equally, taking ownership of your own skills and development is important.
Get to know the competency areas and regularly check your own progress against them. It is well worth spending a few minutes to understand where you are with each of them with an honest reflection of your progress in the field.
Competencies to develop and build your project management skills.
1. Technical
Technical Competencies include the following:
Project Financial Management including budgets and reporting
Project Planning
Manage scope, time, cost and quality
Manage risks and issues
People management and leadership
Benefits Management
2. Behavioural
Behavioural Competencies include the following:
Communication and consultation
Conflict and crisis management
Flexibility and creativity
Leadership
Negotiation
Organisational effectiveness
Problem solving and decision making
Professionalism and ethics
Trustworthiness
Self-control
Teamwork
3. Contextual
Contextual Competencies include the following:
Health and Safety environment
Legal or regulatory environment
Business systems or process specific environments
Financial environment
Part of wider Programme or Portfolio of projects
Recommended Reading - Project Management
- Project Manager Competency Development Framework* published by the Project Management Institute (PMI) (US)
- APM Competence Framework* published by the Association for Project Management (APM) (UK)
*As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. This does not cost you anything more if you do decide to purchase the linked items, and we appreciate your support in helping our business to build and grow a repository of useful articles.
[…] The Change Happens run a series of topics usually over a period of 2 to 3 months such as Kotter’s Leading Change last summer and are currently exploring Project Manager competencies. […]