Factors unique to Project Managers:
A) The project manager always has to deal with the constraint of limited resources. Timelines are mostly tight. Acquiring befitting resources from functional departments and dealing with underestimation often are challenges for the project managers.
B) A team highly engrossed in the project shouldn’t lag on the other needs and opportunities and project manager has to ensure that. Training needs of the team members should be fulfilled so that they can be abreast with the latest market skills. Promotions, salary hikes of the team members should also be taken care of lest it will lead to demotivation of the team members
C) Project Manager has to be effective in firefighting mode. Decision making ability and composure in attitude in crisis situation is a must for the PMs. One wrong decision can lead the project to be in a bad shape and demotivate the team.
D) Dealing with uncertainties is an essential skill of a project manager. Last minute scope change, Change Requests, Staffing and resource issues are some of the cases where success of the project can be at stake. An effective risk management and contingency plan has to be in place for the project to be completed successfully. Functional Managers on the other hand generally have manage already established processes and their environment is relatively stable.
E) Communication is a very important aspect of project management. Accurate and timely communication to the various stakeholders (client, top management, functional departments, team members, subcontractors) is essential. The project manager has to have excellent communication, negotiation and networking skill.
F) Project manager should have enough credibility in terms of operational knowledge, experience, decision making ability and administration and leadership capabilities. A strong credential helps the PM to gain respect of stakeholders and also provides him/her an edge while dealing with people.
G) Project Manager has to exhibit different skill at different phases of the project. E.g. in the Project Initiation phase; strategic management, negotiation and conflict management is required to acquire the resources, streamlining processes and defining customer expectations. In the Planning phase, Estimation of cost and resources, scheduling, budgeting and resource allocation is required. In the Execution phase; monitoring and control, quality audits and delivery acumen is essential and subsequently a proper closure of the project is expected out the project manager.