Project Manager competence is an area where the individual and the organisation both need to accept responsibilities. Helping project managers build the skills they need to do a great job is as important as the individual taking responsibility for developing their skills and behaviours in a supported environment. Both will result in strong project management practices and project successes.
Soft skills for Project Managers is a topic that is regularly raised without any real resolution of where the balance between technical (hard) skills and people (soft) skills lies. The question is too simplistic, soft skills encompasses a wide range of skills and anyone responsible for delivery will need a mix of hard and soft skills to get the job done.
A good project plan is a key tool for the project manager, but how do you know if your plan is a good one? It should underpin communications and decision making regarding delivery dates, use of individuals time, budget 'burn' rate, and tell you something about the culture of your team.