Podcast: Five Traits of Great Project Managers
- November 24, 2020
- Podcast
- Electrical
Mitch McDonnell, Project Manager and Estimator at Electrical Concepts, shares traits that transform good project managers into great ones.
Project managers are an important part of any project’s coordination, communication and completion– especially when the project stays on time and under budget.
Here are a few traits to expect from great project managers:
1. Sees the Big Picture.
Before a project is completed, data, requests and objectives need to be compiled. Professionals should be able to review these components and see the big picture. What is the desired outcome and how (and where) does the project manager and their team fit into the project? Great project managers can articulate their vision logically and creatively, describing the project’s goals and necessary tasks to achieve the desired end result.
2. Communicates Often.
Most of a project manager’s time is spent communicating– with customers, suppliers, and team members. Great project managers take responsibility for communicating the vision, goals, performance, and expectations of each project. Professionals with transparent communication lead more successful projects, help boost ROI, and form stronger relationships with team members and project stakeholders.
3. Stays Cool Under Pressure.
Projects will always have problems and delays. A great project manager must be able to manage stress and take on each challenge rationally and methodically. Challenges should be seen as opportunities to influence the outcome and add value for the customer. Sometimes challenges are the best way to innovate and discover new solutions to best serve the customer!
4. Asks the Right Questions.
Professionals who ask the right questions can enhance their projects by offering their stragetic leadership skills and technical expertise. Instead of waiting for issues to arise, they will proactively seek out issues by asking probing questions about the project’s purpose and goals– even the risks involved.
Great project managers will also ask themselves questions to reevaluate what they think they already know. Even if a project is going well, it’s beneficial for professionals to ask themselves questions– often leading to improved performance.
5. Understands They Can Always Learn.
Project managers have a lot of technical expertise, but the best in the business understand (and admit) they do not know everything. They ask questions, re-evaluate their performance, continue their education, learn from their mistakes, and admit when they don’t know something. This fosters trust with their team members and customers, and it also allows the project manager to grow and improve upon their skills.
To hear Mitch’s stories about his time in the construction industry, please listen to his podcast episode here.
https://www.buzzsprout.com/804773/6110290-memories-from-the-trades
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ARTICLE BY:
MITCH MCDONNELL
PROJECT MANAGER | ELECTRICAL CONCEPTS
McDonnell has nearly 20 years of experience in the electrical industry.