Traits that can enhance your career prospects as a project manager

Projects act as building blocks for an organisation. It is the responsibility of project managers to ensure that each task is carried out smoothly, which is why a certain skillset is required to manage and direct a project.

The profession is becoming an increasingly popular choice with its offer of growth in terms of position and money. A project manager should have leadership qualities that when honed properly, result in a fulfilling career. Apart from picking the right university course, there are various practices one can use to grow in this role:

Be a highly persuasive communicator: Interpersonal skills are really important in this profession. You have to articulate ideas in the right way to your team and motivate them. Similarly, you have to deal with clients effectively. Excellent communication is a strong point that is of great use in the business world.

Learn to troubleshoot: Problems arise out of nowhere and often at the most stressful points in a project. A capable project manager has to be calm and headstrong in order to find a relevant and innovative solution for every issue. This ensures the smooth running of a project, despite any hurdles that might arise.

Pay attention to detail: An observant and sharp manager will not miss out on even the minutest of detail. Make sure that while you are focused on the big picture, the smaller details are not overlooked. Good observational skills are a very useful trait that will be beneficial in the long run.

Be flexible: While it’s good to abide by a linear structure, the importance of flexibility can never be overlooked. If things shift from the original plan, then a project manager should not develop cold feet or get worked up. Rather, they should be fluid and go with the flow by being willing to do anything to make sure the task is accomplished.

Know your team well: A project manager works with its core team to carry out any task. For this, they need to be acquainted with each member and their strengths and weaknesses. This helps to properly optimise a workforce which is a necessary quality for every leader. As a project manager, one has to work in sync with team members to succeed.

Be a visionary: A project manager has to have all the qualities of a leader. They have to be a visionary and focus on long term goals. This means a manager has to forever adapt, improvise and take risks. Being able to effectively spot opportunities and obstacles is a compelling trait.

The above features are guidelines which when used can be useful for every budding project manager. As far as choosing the right course is concerned, you can explore the scope of project management courses available in Ireland.