The 3 key qualities to look for in your senior project manager
Summary:
The key to finding the right senior project manager for your business is an in-depth understanding of the capabilities, advantages, and value addition they bring to the table.
Three qualities that are essential for a senior project manager in any industry are:
– The ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously
– Be quick on the uptake and first on the scene
– Good people management skills
Understanding the value of these qualities for your business and ensuring that your personnel meets these criteria will transform your project management function in both the short- and long-term.
Explore the critical qualities of an effective project manager with Kronos Group’s blog insights.
Finding the right senior project manager for your business often feels like finding the figurative needle in a haystack.
Be that as it may, it’s important that you maintain a strong concept of what this role requires. Depending on the size, scale, and industry your business operates in, these requirements will shift.
In this process, there may be factors that impact your decision: the economic and business landscape, the current state of your project management function, how important project management is to your business, and your vision of the future of this function.
This may seem like a daunting task and that’s because it is. It’s not always easy to identify the perfect senior project manager for your business, and there’s no way of knowing how they will perform under pressure—especially during times like these!
Just like a magnet can make it easier to find the needle in the haystack, there are a few tools you can use to make your search for a senior project manager easier.
So, what’s this magic tool? Based on my experience, knowledge is everything. Knowing the key qualities that your senior project manager needs to possess is really all you need.
Your senior project manager needs to be a good juggler
Much like a magician at a kid’s birthday party, every project manager—senior or otherwise—must be able to juggle their priorities, responsibilities, timelines, and budgets.
This is an important skill for any project manager to prove their project management capabilities.
Projects are a method through which a business can boost its growth, drive higher value addition, and accelerate crisis recovery. The multidimensional value of a project, however, is threatened if a less-than-capable senior project manager is at the helm.
Being able to roll with the punches, to keep the project moving forward, and to adapt to the rapid changes that are bound to occur throughout the project is a key characteristic to keep an eye out for in your senior project manager.
Your senior project manager must be quick on the uptake and first on the scene
In an increasingly digitalised world in which businesses are forced to contend with a variety of challenges, from pandemics to cybersecurity risks, it’s important to maintain a culture of continuous improvement for your project management function.
Having a senior project manager who can adapt quickly to each challenge and implement the right solutions in a timely and sustainable manner will help you achieve your objectives while sticking to timelines and budgets.
For your senior project manager to perform these tasks successfully, they need to have the dexterity and the technical skills to leverage the right digital solutions in each situation.
This means that your senior project manager should have a good grasp of digital project management solutions and know exactly how to consolidate these solutions to meet your business’ specific requirements.
Your senior project manager needs to be skilled in people management
Projects tend to bring people together from across your organisation. This means that the responsibility of ensuring the harmony of the team and helping project members work together falls squarely on the shoulders of your senior project manager.
An experienced senior project manager will have the leadership skills and capacity to manage different people fulfilling specific functions within a larger group while working towards a shared vision.
How can Kronos Group help you find the right senior project manager for your business?
Finding the right senior project manager to meet your business goals can alter the trajectory of your business for the better.
As it happens, Kronos Group has developed its project management expertise over the years. We offer a range of services to help you boost your project management function including business maturity assessments, project management transformation, training, and outsourcing.
Through our services, you can ensure that your project management function is driving your business forward and helping you achieve your targets.
