Introduction

Before learning about project management competencies, let us talk about project management in brief. According to PMI – “Project management is the use of specific knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to deliver something of value to people.”

Some of the examples of project management are – the development of software for improving a business process, the construction of a building, the expansion of sales into a new geographic market, etc.

The project management competency definition goes like – the qualities required to become a competent project manager.

This article will be helpful for all the readers who want to know about project management competencies, a project manager’s skill set and the qualities present in an ideal project manager.

How is this article useful to you?

Learning about project management and project management competencies will help you understand whether this is what you want to do, or if you are suitable to become a project manager. In the next section, you will learn about project manager skills and competencies.

Besides that, you will become aware of the role of a project manager and understand the core qualities that a good project manager should possess.

Top 10 Project Management Competencies

Now, let us learn about the highlight of this article- Project management core competencies.

There are various project management competencies. But, in this article, we have focused on the 10 most important project management competencies needed in a good project manager.

The project management competencies are:

Communication

A project manager should be an effective communicator, he should be able to convey his thoughts in such a way that the stakeholders and the employees can grasp the meaning behind his words as quickly as possible.

He should possess active listening skills, so that he can understand the problems faced by stakeholders and employees who are a part of the project.

Preparing and delivering presentations to help the people understand the concepts and ideas related to the completion of the project.

The project manager should be an excellent public speaker, so that he can lead the teams and the stakeholders involved in the project.

Leadership

A project manager should be able to lead multiple teams related to the project. Project manager should motivate the teams and show them his vision of the completed project.

Inspiring his subordinates is also a part of project manager’s duty.

A good project manager would be able to delegate the tasks within the teams and persuade the stakeholders to work towards the vision of his project.

Conflict resolution along with giving and receiving the feedbacks are also the parts of his duty.

A project manager should be able to monitor the time spent on each task, so that the whole project can be successfully completed before the deadline.

Decision-making

This is one of the project management competencies that is essential in a good project manager. A project manager structures the data and finds useful insights out of them which helps in the success of the project.

His another role is to conduct scenario analysis which helps determine the challenges and opportunities that they might come across during the completion of the project.

He should make timely decisions based on the available facts and circumstances, and change or modify the plans according to the situation.

For doing that he should possess skills like-

• Problem-solving
• Analytical skills
• Creativity

Strategy-Development

Creating a strategy is an essential part of project management, as project managers are typically responsible for designing strategies to reach project goals.

For that they should think of various directions the project could take and come up with the ways to capitalize on the opportunities and overcome the adversities.

Developing the tactics which will help move the project in the most optimal path is one of the roles of a project manager.

Business Acumen

Understanding the industry trends and their impact on various businesses is the duty of the project manager.

Taking advantage of the opportunity and using the trends of industry to elevate the level of the project is done by project manager as well.

On the other hand, he should be able to understand the impact of the project on different businesses.

Risk management

Skills in risk management can help project managers spot project risks and respond to them before they cause problems. This can be essential to completing projects safely and without errors.

Stress management

The employee and the project manager will accumulate stress as they work on the project. The program manager should be able to handle his as well as the stress of the employees by teaching them about stress management practices.

Some of them are given below:

• Physical exercise
• Breathing techniques
• Spending time outdoors
• Decluttering your workspace
• Talking to someone you trust

Negotiation skills

The project manager would be an expert at negotiation, as he would have to negotiate with the stakeholders of the project and try to meet their demands also making sure that the project is completed successfully.

In order to ensure the successful completion of the project manager should be able to mediate the interests of both stakeholders and the project.

Organizational skills

In order to juggle between different tasks, a project manager should remain organized himself before he starts to organize his subordinates.

Having everything in the proper place so that it is easier to find when required.

Adaptability

The ability to change according to any situation is a must for becoming a project manager.

A project is full of variabilities, and the method of using that variability to one’s advantage is a thing that project managers should be capable of.

Can you acquire these competencies?

There are always things that one can obtain through hard work. While for others you require talent. The best strategy is to know about yourself, your strengths, and your weaknesses. As it has been said- “knowing yourself is half the battle.”

Take advantage of your strengths and consolidate your weaknesses.

Remember that all the factors can be ignored if you truly have a passion for becoming a project manager.

Salary of a project manager

The salary of project managers ranges from- $20,000 to $120,000. The salary increases with experience. According to the graph mentioned above, the United States gives the maximum salary to project managers.

Conclusion

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