5 Key Project Manager Skills

From tracking the daily operation of colleagues on a construction site to completing the project within the scheduled window and on budget - project managers carry a huge responsibility on their shoulders which completely influences a prohect. Here are some of the key skills according to RickSoft, a productivity solutions provider.

Flexibility

Managers must have the flexibility to adapt to unforeseen consequences and properly prepare for them. Managers should have a total macro understanding of the project and the ability to foresee developments, externalities, and factors that will adversely affect the project schedule and any linked operations.

Communication

It is crucial to any project's management that everybody is on the same page. Every project relies on the collaboration of all parties. Many project issues usually stem from miscommunication, project managers needs to have outstanding communication skills and express themselves clearly in order to avoid problems.

Structure

Great project managers maintain high levels of structured organization to track. monitor, and stay evaluate the different moving pieces within any given project. Effective project managers which are successful can quickly ascertain which tasks are most urgent and which ones can be delayed for a later time without affecting the overall delivery date of the entire venture.

Managing Risk

Project managers understand risk as an ever-present factor of any project they oversee, risk mitigation should begin at the planning stages - but even with ample preparation it is not possible to foresee every outcome. Therefore, the project manager should tap into their experience and knowledge of industry to prepare for multiple contingencies, before they happen on-site.

Negotiation

Projects contain many various stakeholders - and so the process involves negotiation, especially on the allocation of budget and other resources, scheduling employees, change orders, and scope creep. Knowing how to negotiate well is one of the crucial skills that a construction project manager needs to possess.