After taking some time off blogging, I thought it would be good to start back in with a topic that has been very close to me and important if you are looking to find great project managers. I have been asked to help recruit, train, and develop project managers, and many times this topic of what makes for an exceptionally solid project manager. Often poor project managers are narrowly focused on the fundamental project management activities, and missing the big picture of their role in the success of the organization.
There are four major competencies (or “pillars”) required of projects managers. It is required for project managers to understand the tools, processes, and skills of project management, but that is not a sufficient role in most organizations. Project Managers play many different roles and will be asked to go beyond traditional project management to support the overal business of the organization or the client.
1 – Delivery
This pillar speaks to the traditional aspects of project management. This pillar covers managing scope, issues, and risks, communication and coordination of activities with the team, client and third parties, planning and estimation, status and tracking progress, change management, facilitation, and all the other key practice areas from the PM Body of Knowledge. It is the stuff that needs to be done to deliver the project on time, on budget, and meeting or exceeding the client expectations.
2 – Operations
Project managers often have an operational role in the organization as well. This pillar refers to the tasks needed to “keep the lights on” in the organization. It includes financial reporting (profit and loss, margins, budgeting and actual revenue and expenses). It also includes time tracking and reporting, administration, policy and procedure stewardship, forecasting resource needs, and HR processes.
3 – People
Project Managers also need to focus energy on the people on their team. This means acquiring, developing, and growing the team with people that will be valueable contributors to the project success. It also means managing morale, growth and development plans, feedback and compensation processes, reward and recognition, and discipline issues. This pillar is all about the soft side of project managment and getting a group of individuals motivated and achieving much more as a team than they could on their own.
4 – Business Development
In particular in the service business, but applicable to most situations is the role of the project manager in shaping new opportunities into real projects. This pillar focuses on growing business with current clients (scope additions, new project phases, or new projects). It can also mean consulting with a pursuit team to help develop an approach and an estimate for delivering the work and demonstrating how the client objectives could be achieved.
Typically project managers do not spend equal time on each pillar at any one time. The energy or focus also shifts depending on the situation and the experience of the project manager. More junior project managers will probably focus primarily on delivery and operations, while more senior or director roles will shift their focus to people and business development. The four pillars provide a framework for defining a project manager job description, identifying and qualifiying new project manager candidates, and developing and growing well rounded and successful project managers in your organization.
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