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Posted by: Elizabeth Harrin in Project Management 8 January 2015 2 Comments 165,388 Views
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Ive made a list of the 15 core skills that I think project managers need. These are the things that should
be part of your skillset because they will help you get the job done more effectively. And for the avoidance
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of doubt, effectively means faster and with less effort. I certainly want that for my projects!
@2080STRATEGYEX UPCOMING COURSES
Here is the list of skills project managers need. As you read through, think about which ones should be
My Tweets Scheduling and Cost Control on 16 August 201
your focus areas for the coming year and how you are going to take your skills to the next level.
PMP Exam Power Preparation on 4 Septemb
2017
MOST POPULAR
1. Leadership Managing Projects on 6 September 2017
PRINCE2 Foundation and Practitioner
Project leadership was a hot topic this year. Being able to lead your team as well as manage them is a 15 Top Skills
September 2017
trend that shows no sign of abating (and thats a good thing). Its really important to be able to inspire Project
others, set the vision and lead effectively, so if thats not your strong point resolve to work on it now. Managers Need Project Leadership, Management and
8 January Communications on 11 September 2017
2015 Risk Management on 18 September 2017
2. Negotiation Programme Management on 27 September 20
How to
It would be lovely if everyone did what was best for the greater good at all times, but projects dont work Highlight Skills Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
like that in real life, do they? Project managers with good negotiation skills will be an asset to their teams in a Project October 2017
as they seek to resolve conflicts by finding the win-win scenarios for everyone. Management High Impact Communication on 16 October 20
CV
30 March 2015

3. Scheduling ABOUT OUR BLOG

Top Five Skill
It should go without saying that project scheduling is a core project management skill. However, speaking Areas for a TwentyEighty Strategy Execution helps people
to people who manage project managers during end-of-year review time I have heard that some of them PMO Analyst around the world improve the way they manage
arent up to scratch in this area. 20 October their projects, contracts, requirements and vend
2014
through innovative learning. This blog is to re-
Get to grips with project scheduling because a) its your job and b) it will help you deliver things more enforce our commitment to the industry and
Top Five Skill provide a useful tool to the PM Community.
successfully for others (which is also your job).
Areas for a
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4. Cost Control Officer
3 July 2014
Budget management is bizarrely one of my favourite topics. I am not a natural maths whizz but I do like a
PROJECT MANAGEMENT TRAINING
well put together spreadsheet. If I understand the numbers and create my own tracking mechanism I can What Does the
tell you to the penny how much my project is spending. Steering
Committee Do?
Cost management is a critical topic for project managers. Those without this skill will be at a disadvantage 12 January
because budgets are tight. You need to show that you can deliver your project within the cost constraints 2015
and by managing the project finances intelligently.
Risks and
Issues They
are not the
5. Risk Management
same!
The more mature project management gets as a profession, the more we find ourselves doing projects that 26 February 2015
are unique. The more routine the project, the more it is likely to get outsourced or given to a functional
manager who shows an aptitude for getting things done. Project managers will work on the more complex, Projects
transformative, unique endeavours that require decent risk management. Online: the
New Rules of
Being able to control risk (as far as you can) is a sign that you are on top of your project. Project sponsors Engagement
4 October 2010
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hate surprises and good risk management is one way that you can manage that.

Its Project Better Projects

Managers who Brad Egeland
6. Contract Management Deliver Earth PM
Part of managing your project involves managing suppliers. The vast majority of projects will have an Organisation
Henny Portman
element of supply, whether that is something as simple as the outside caterers who bring in cakes for your Strategy

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7/19/2017 15 Top Skills Project Managers Need | PM Blog
launch event or a full-on off-shoring system development firm. 28 April 2015 How to Manage a Camel
Leadership Freak
Contract management is about being able to actively manage those procurements. Previously many project Scope Creep,
managers have been able to rely on their Finance departments to get this sort of work done (and Legal Unrealized Mike Clayton
teams for managing the terms of the deal). Today, with everyone under pressure to do more with less, its Benefits, and PM 4 Girls
falling to project managers to pick up the slack when it comes to procurement. Failed PM Hut
Projectsits your own
PMO Flashmob
fault!
22 December 2014 Project Management
7. Critical Thinking Project Management Podcast
The Top Ten
Critical thinking is core to being able to make good decisions. You have to weigh up the pros and cons of Project Project News Today
solutions to problems before choosing the right way forward. This is what distinguishes a project manager Management Projects@Work
who is good at managing issues to someone who blows issues out of the water every time. Trends for Stepping into PM
2016
You can build your critical thinking skills through practice and by equipping yourself with tools and Voices on Project Management
21 January 2016
approaches to help you structure arguments logically and see things from all angles before making the final Zen PM
decision.

TOPICS
8. Communication
Topics
If I had to pick one skill on this list to focus on this year it would be communication. We dont do enough of
Select Category
it. Our stakeholders demand more of it. We fail time and time again to meet expectations largely because
we failed to communicate effectively and often.

Think creatively about the communication channels you have got available to you including:

Intranet
Newsletters
Emails
Collaboration and social media tools
Team meetings/face-to-face
Web and online conferencing.

Then think about how you can apply each of these to actively serve your project next year.

9. Project Recovery
I hope you dont have to do project recovery next year but if you are looking for a boost to your career
then showing you know how to turn around a poorly performing team and project will certainly set you
aside from your peers.

10. Coaching
Most of the people on your project team wont work for you (if, indeed, any of them do). That makes it
really important that you are good at managing in a matrixed environment but also that you are good at
coaching. Why? Because they may not have much project experience and youll have to coach them to top
performance.

If you are worried about not being a good coach you might be surprised to learn that coaching skills are
something that might be closer in reach than you expect. If you sit with a child during homework and help
them come to the right answers then you are doing a form of coaching. Some training in this area will help
you apply those skills in the workplace to help your team perform their best.

11. Task Management

This is another bread and butter task for project managers. You should be able to create a task list,
delegate work to others and keep on top of progress. I found this was the easiest part of project
management when I started because I was naturally a list-maker. If it doesnt come easy to you youll have
to develop strategies to ensure you are always on top of your To Do list.

When you have cracked managing your own work you can help others manage theirs. This is the best way
in my experience to make sure that projects come in on time and others take responsibility for their
deliverables.

12. Quality Management

Quality management ensures that you deliver a product that is fit for purpose. What project sponsor
doesnt want that? Unfortunately project managers often dont spend enough time on the quality angle of
their projects its one of those processes and set of tasks that are overlooked as an administrative
overhead.

If you are a quality expert, then good for you. But if you arent, seriously consider upping this on the
priority list for 2015. The better the quality of your deliverables, the better value you are offering
stakeholders and the more satisfied they will be.

13. Meetings Management

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7/19/2017 15 Top Skills Project Managers Need | PM Blog
13. Meetings Management Related Posts
How many of your meetings this year have overrun or finished without any clear action being agreed? How
much time have you sat in meetings wondering why you were there and what time you can leave without it
looking too bad? Or worse, how much time have you spent on conference calls only half listening while
doing your emails or playing Candy Crush?

Being able to sense when a meeting is going off the rails and people arent paying attention is a key skill
for project managers. Its helped by sticking to the agenda but its also about being able to read the body
language of people in the room to check that you are getting through the material quickly and
comprehensively. Dont let 2015 become another year of wasted time in meeting rooms.
How To Build A Project
Scorecard

14. Business Case Writing

With the ongoing focus on delivering business value, being able to write a business case (or at least
contribute one) will be a good skill to have. Get hold of some templates so that when you are asked to
finalise a business case or review one you know what should be included.

Find some business cases from past projects and evaluate what you would do differently. And make sure
that your next project actually has a business case thats a good start!

15. A Sense of Humour The 4 Big Issues In

Project Management
Getting through your projects largely relies on a good sense of humour and the goodwill of colleagues
Today
prepared to pick up the slack or wait another 24 hours.

An ability to see the funny side of project management will keep you on an even keel during the next 12
months.

Now you have read the list which of these skills will you work on as a priority this year? Let us know in the
comments and good luck in your project management career this year.

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ABOUT ELIZABETH HARRIN

http://www.esi-intl.co.uk/blogs/pmoperspectives/index.php/15-skills-project-managers-will-need-2015/ 3/5
7/19/2017 15 Top Skills Project Managers Need | PM Blog
Elizabeth Harrin is a career project and programme manager with a decade of experience in
healthcare and financial services. She is Director of The Otobos Group, a project communications
consultancy and author of Social Media for Project Managers and the award-winning blog A Girls
Guide to Project Management.

2 COMMENTS

conno ralfson
21 October 2015 at 6:09 am

Thanks for useful tips.

Try to dig deep into what your clients expect from a project before getting started. Ask project
teams what roadblocks they have hit in similar, past projects.
Reply

Justin George
3 February 2016 at 4:04 am

Thanks for sharing these skill sets and how to develop our career.
Was of great help and would learn the ones i missed.
Reply

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TwentyEighty Strategy Execution helps people around the world improve the way they
manage their projects, contracts, requirements and vendors through innovative learning.
This blog is to re-enforce our commitment to the industry and provide a useful tool to the PM
Community.

Visit TwentyEighty Strategy Execution

EMEA | Americas | Asia Pacific

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