What makes for a good project manager? If you had to hire one based on a particular skill set, what would you consider the most important skill a project manager should have? In this writer’s opinion, leadership skills are at the top the list. I would also submit that leadership is innate. Just about everything else can be learned.
Before going on, it is important to distinguish between leadership as a character trait and as a skill set. The character trait of leadership is something a person is born with. That’s why some people describe leadership as innate. It is a lot like being a musician.
The greatest musicians are born with an innate ability to create music. They develop musical skills through training, much the same way innate leaders are trained in leadership skills. Here’s the thing: someone who learns to play the piano without being a naturally gifted musician may end up being technically skilled, but they will never be an artist. A similar principle holds true with leadership.
Leaders Provide the Vision
One of the most visible characteristics of a born leader is the ability to provide vision. True leaders look into the future and see where things are going. They provide direction by sharing with others what they see down the road. Where they see goals, others see questions. Where they see success, others are not sure.
Being able to articulate a vision is something that’s hard to learn. Learning is not impossible, but it sure isn’t easy for someone who doesn’t have an innate ability to lead.
Leaders Make Decisions
More than one project has fallen apart on the heels of a project manager incapable of making decisions. According to the Janiko Group, decisions drive projects forward. Where decisions are being made, projects stall. That’s just the reality of the project management game.
Perhaps you’ve had a boss who did not excel at decision-making. You dreaded working for him because you never knew where things stood. Everyone in your department sort of did their own thing because the boss wasn’t able to decide who should do what. This actually happens more often than most people think.
By and large, the process of making decisions can be learned. But the innate ability to consistently do so cannot be. If you are the type of person who can confidently make decisions and then live with the consequences, you probably have that innate ability. Otherwise, the decision-making skills you do possess were probably learned.
Leaders Keep Things on Track
Vision and decision-making lay the foundation for good projects. But there is one final component: keeping things on track. There isn’t a single project ever attempted that hasn’t been subject to distractions and deviations. The difference between success and failure is how project managers deal with those distractions and deviations.
In simple terms, leaders keep things on track. They are able to see through the distractions and deviations in order to keep their eyes focused on the prize. They are also able to come alongside team members and help them refocus.
Again, this ability isn’t learned. A leader may have to learn how to implement the ability, but the ability itself is innate. It is just something leaders are naturally able to do.
You may agree or disagree with this post. Either way, it has been this writer’s experience that a project manager without leadership skills isn’t very effective. Moreover, solid leadership skills rest on the innate ability to lead. When the character trait and learned skills are utilized together, a leader gets things done.