5 Skills I wish I knew before becoming a Project Manager

Here are 5 skills I wish I knew before I started as a PM. When you think about the role of a project manager, things that come to mind are project planning, budget and schedule. There are also intangible skills that are not given enough importance, and you learn about them only after a few years of working as a project manager. Having an open mindset and proactive engagement will help you better prepare for daily challenges. Although these concepts develop with experience, knowing, expecting and being on the lookout will enhance your performance as a project manager.

Adaptability

With constant change, it is essential to continuously learn new skills. In terms of technical skills, be prepared to transfer to different systems. For example, your organization may plan to move from Jira to SmartSheet to manage projects. In such cases, understand the prep work in advance and take necessary actions to adapt to the new tool. For non-technical aspects, one of the examples will be different types of stakeholders in multiple projects. Another instance is transition between remote, hybrid, and onsite work. In this case, communication strategies change significantly and are heavily dependent on the project team and their preferences.

Emotional Intelligence

One thing AI currently lacks is the ability to empathize, express and understand feelings or emotions. Not every stakeholder or project is the same. As project managers, it is critical to tailor conversations to suit each client’s needs. PMs must create an environment where the team can communicate transparently. Being an active listener and facilitating conversation is most impactful when you are present to the conversation, ask the right questions and lead the discussion in the right direction. EI is a proven psychological concept that plays a vital role in project success. It enhances team management and strengthens stakeholder relationships.

Communication

A major part of project management involves communication. It is not limited to speaking with the team. PMs are responsible for tailoring communication methods to their audience. EI and communication skills are analogous. Project managers should be aware of their stakeholder’s understanding in different parts of the project. For instance, clients with non-technical expertise need explanations to be different from the technical ones. Clear and effective communication can set expectations right. At the same time, over-communication can confuse the clients and make them feel overwhelmed. Use the right channels and frequency for each group.

Setting Priorities

In any project, there will be multiple tasks to be accomplished. As a project manager or scrum master, your role is to prioritize and set the order in which these actions need to be completed. Always begin by thinking about what you are accomplishing and what the impact will be. Align your tasks with the project objectives and goals. It is easy to delve into the details, forgetting the intention of the work. Prioritizing will allow you to categorize work based on time, effort and importance. It can help you understand various activities including repetitive tasks where AI can be applied, as well as actions that require either less attention or more focus.

Data Analysis

Be prepared to take the role of an analyst. Generating reports, charts and providing analysis can become a part of your duties. Especially larger projects with multiple PMs provide the opportunity of an ‘Analyst’ for junior and mid-level PMs. Having a point of view and providing insights are crucial to help key players make decisions. Depending on the project type and expertise, PMs should have the ability to drive the project in the desired direction. It’s no surprise that data analysts and project managers share some common responsibilities.

To perform data analysis, the best tools would be Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets. Learning shortcuts and formulas can save you a ton of time. The capabilities of these tools are so vast that currently fewer than 10% can confidently claim expertise in Excel or Google Sheets. Pivot tables in Excel are widely used across many companies. It offers a variety of ways to summarize large amounts of data. SQL also plays a major role in analyzing large data either in a table or database format.

Conclusion

These skills involve critical thinking and vary based on several factors such as the social and political environment. Being aware and present to these concepts leverage project performance. Change is constant and taking steps to adapt to every transition can make one a great leader. These techniques will also enable the project manager to lead the team, steer the project and achieve the desired outcome. Project management is one of the roles that intersects hard and soft skills, making it essential to excel in both areas equally. Ultimately, the journey is just as important as successfully delivering projects within constraints.