How to Be a Better Project Manager

A good project manager is an effective communicator, a thinker, and a self-aware person. They embrace change, work in the gray area, and are self-aware. As a project manager, you must embrace new ideas and new ways of doing things, and be willing to change if they offer advantages to your project. One of the most important traits of a good project manager is pragmatism, the willingness to do what it takes to accomplish a goal.

Good project managers are master communicators

A good project manager is not someone who sits on the sidelines, but a team player who guides and frees teammates from roadblocks. The best project managers know how to flip between planning sprints, mediate disagreements, and motivate slumping teams. A master communicator is an expert at keeping their cool under pressure. They do not let their emotions get in the way of their decision-making.

In addition to being a master communicator, good project managers should have excellent verbal and written communication skills. Verbal communication is essential for project managers because they must clearly convey ideas and communicate them to team members. Verbal communication involves ensuring that the entire team understands the project's goals, tasks, and status updates. Yet, research has shown that up to 69% of managers don't like to communicate with their employees, which can result in misunderstandings and wasted time.

Good project managers also have a keen ear for listening. Active listening involves paying attention to not only the words spoken, but also to nonverbal cues such as body language, tone of voice, and eye contact. It takes practice and dedication to become a mindful listener, but it can be done right away. Developing a keen ear for subtle nuances and body language is essential in project management.

They think critically

Better project managers think critically about decisions and processes. Critical thinking means thinking more deeply and evaluating situations from many different angles. In other words, critical thinking is a skill that helps you uncover new information and test hypotheses. As a project manager, you should learn to think critically because you're a problem-solver. The Foundation for Critical Thinking (FCT) is a powerful approach to assessing information and evaluating theories.

To practice critical thinking, you'll need time. In a project, you're likely to work under a deadline, and there's probably no time to gather second opinions or to have complex thought processes. In addition, senior stakeholders are unlikely to like being challenged, and arguing with them can end up costing you the project. Critical thinking tools can help you adjust your point of view through one-to-one conversations, facts-based presentations, or testing results.

A course at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell teaches critical thinking to project managers. The course teaches managers how to clarify unclear communications in projects and the future consequences of those decisions. It also incorporates insights from project team members. Critical thinking skills are crucial to achieving project success. But the key is to practice them! There are many benefits to becoming a better project manager. You will see a positive impact in your project.

They are self-aware

Being more self-aware is key to improving your project management skills. Self-awareness helps you understand your behavior, which in turn, helps you communicate more effectively. Self-awareness helps you better understand the people around you. In today's fast-paced world, a project manager must be able to analyze and reflect on his or her actions. Self-aware project managers are more effective, both in terms of communication and results.

Self-awareness is important to success in project management, but it goes beyond intellectual understanding. While knowledge is important, a manager must also be able to identify and listen to their emotions. A higher degree of self-awareness helps a manager make better decisions and bounce back faster after failure. Self-awareness also translates into a more confident manager. Being self-aware of your emotions helps a project manager deal with difficult situations and handle conflict better.

Self-aware leaders are able to identify what they do and say in different situations. A self-aware leader is able to recognize when they cross the line and can prevent it. In addition, self-aware leaders are able to prevent negative reactions by opting out of automatic responses and thinking critically. They also avoid apologizing when needed. Self-aware leaders are more likely to avoid unnecessary conflict and improve their teamwork.

They accept criticism

One of the most important aspects of a successful project management role is being able to take constructive criticism. The people in your team will be the ones who will make or break your project, and they will react to a wide variety of issues depending on the nature of your company. If your team members are frustrated or dissatisfied, they are most likely to point the finger at the manager or leader. As a project manager, it is critical to be able to take constructive criticism well and to use it to improve.

While you may be able to take constructive criticism constructively, it is important to remember that past success does not give you a free pass. Instead, turn your negative feedback into constructive suggestions that will help you and your team move forward. Remember that only 8% of people have never argued with a critic, but 41% have argued with a critic. To make things even worse, a bad manager might even try to put someone in their place - a situation that only makes matters worse.

Regardless of how much you value your team and your colleagues, the fact remains that you'll receive criticism. It is inevitable that you'll have to deal with it, and you have to learn how to deal with it gracefully. Embracing criticism is important because it can serve as a catalyst for change. When you do this, you'll be more likely to be open to improvement.