“Project management is easy. Planning is my middle name. I’m seriously organised. Time management is something I just don’t have to worry about. I’m just good at getting stuff done.” You don’t need Jedi powers to be able to make these statements a reality. Project management isn’t just having a plan, there are some new skills that can be learnt to support your success. Sometimes you will be shaping the path and the purpose. Sometimes you will have to make the tough decisions that no one else wants to make. Sometimes you will be helping others to celebrate the successes. When you’re managing a project you see it through from ‘cradle to the grave’. While others dip in and out, you’re there from beginning to end. You might not own the outcome but you most definitely own the process. Look at those statements again. Think about how it will feel when you can start to say these things and really mean it. Use this to motivate you. Use this as you master your discipline and define your approach. The force is strong in you. Build your project skills you will.
At the end of this chapter you'll be able to:
Chapter #1 | The skills of project management.
Define and understand the role of a project managerRecognise the benefits of developing strong project management skillsIdentify the key characteristics of a project managerDevelop strategies to lead dynamic projects
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No matter what your role, you may have to manage, or play an active part in a project at some point during your career. It takes a great deal of skill to do this well, but the time you invest in building good project management skills will really pay off. As a leader your ability to bring your team together and maneuver your way through complex projects will set you up for success, both personally and professionally.
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Project management is definitely about following steps and procedures. But let’s not forget the most essential part of the equation: the person. Anybody can walk on to a tennis court and swing a racquet but that doesn’t mean everybody can play in a grand slam. It takes talent, skill, temperament, attitude and aptitude to be the best! Let’s look at some of the characteristics of a ‘boss’ project manager.
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Great leaders always grow themselves and the people around them, leaving people and organisations stronger than they were before. However, when it comes to project management, regular learning needs to be given a booster shot. Projects often operate in an environment of continual stress due to instability and unpredictability. Leading dynamic projects that often have a high level of unpredictability requires a type of learning that allows you to react effortlessly and spontaneously.
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Commands Authority Naturally You have a question about an action on the project and ask the project manager why it needs to happen. They respond with “because I said so”. Are you feeling adequately ‘put in your place’? Commanding authority naturally isn’t about borrowing power or a title to enlist the help of others – it’s using your charisma, assertiveness, and direction or your essential skills and knowledge in a given situation.
Quickly Sifts Through Information You know exactly how it feels to talk to someone who isn’t really listening. Asking good questions and really listening to those in your project can make all the difference to their sense of involvement, and ultimately their buy-in. Doing this well means that you don’t just go through the motions. You care about communication and the opinions of all. You also ‘get’ how your style may impact others.
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Confronts the Issues Your project has headed off course with two members of the team arguing over their place in the process. You can face it head on, nip it in the bud now; or you can leave it be and hope they figure it out without derailing the whole thing. While dealing with issues and sometimes people directly can be hard (the soft stuff is always the hard stuff really) doing it quickly allows you to remain in control, rather than just hoping for the best. In the words of Sun Tzu: “Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.”
Keep it Simple, Clear & Direct If I want directions on how to get from point A to point C, you might tell me to make sure I go through point B first. Great - quick, direct and clear. You might also be inclined to let me know the history of each of the letters, or information about D, E and F, or the different ways I might travel through my route, or the things to think about along the way, or all the possible complicated problems that could occur. Are you getting my point? Find the simplest method and don’t get hung up on complicated tools and techniques – for you it’s all about what’s effective.
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Looks ahead & moves that way You’re in a meeting and ask: “What are we trying to achieve?”. Then, you see your leader scratch his or her head and say: “Actually, I’m not sure.” Sometimes the goal isn’t always crystal clear but your team will look to you for clarity. Knowing where you’re supposed to be going and guiding on steps to get there is all part of the role. Incremental improvement means progress – whether you slow down, speed up, expand or contract, you create momentum.
Practises Self-Discipline Just like good diet and exercise, no one ever regretted a great workout, a healthy meal or the outcomes of self-improvement that resulted from their effort. No matter how good you are - never stop striving to be better. Have a plan and work the plan. Be totally committed to practising your craft, learning from others, staying focused. No regrets.
Leverages Relationships Being a project manager isn’t about doing everything yourself - that’s only your ego talking. Cultivating relationships with key players is not just smart but necessary. Identify any critical issues that threaten projects and utilise your key relationships to help you when ‘fighting fires’.
Asks & Listens You’ve got a lot of information, a lot of opinions and a short deadline. Deciding on what’s important, what information you can use and the stuff to ignore will mean keeping your project and the team on track. The better equipped with the right data, the better decision making abilities and clarity of action you can achieve.
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BRAIN WORKS
BRAIN CONTROL
Seek out and reflect on challenging and stressful situations where you can and learn about your physical and emotional reactions. Manage the overall stress and risk so that it pushes you to the edge but not over it. Find a mentor who can share their successes and failures and imprint the right lessons in your mind. Create a support structure with a team that knows how to keep the stress and risk within reasonable limits.  Adapted from “Bare Knuckled Project Management: How to Succeed at Every Project.” 2013.
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The limbic system is a small structure located in the middle of the brain, in between the brain stem and the cortex. The brainstem is the center of alertness and arousal, while the cortex is the home for most of our higher-level thinking and learning. Mediating between the two is the limbic system, home to human emotion. The whole body becomes engaged with listening, connecting mind and body with profound influence when our limbic system is switched on and working. This limbic system serves as a link and as a reinforcer. Leading projects where stress is involved requires you to react effortlessly and spontaneously. Think about how top athletes practice their sports under stress in different situations that push them to the limit. When the time comes to compete, their bodies automatically know what to do. Thats limbic learning in a nutshell.
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As a Project Manager you’re dependent upon others for the success of your project (sometimes us control freaks need a little reminder!). Your personal and professional credibility will ultimately determine how people respond to you. So, what do you do for them? 
INSULATE AND SHOWCASE It’s a balancing act! Insulate and protect the team from unnecessary interference but also make sure that they get the visibility and support that they need.
CREATE A POSITIVE PROJECT ENVIRONMENT Help your team enjoy being a part of something important. Co-create behavioural expectations and accountabilities. Be aware of the health of your team as project stress comes about.
LIVE FOR THEIR SUCCESS If the team succeeds, it’s because of the team. If it fails, it is because of the coach. Effective project managers don't place blame.
SERVE AND SUPPORT You’re working for the project team. Reinforce this philosophy in both words and actions.
BUILD YOUR SKILLS AND YOU WILL ALSO Help your company eliminate ‘silos’, leading to better communication and collaboration. Enhance the learning culture as people reach out to each other to increase knowledge and build relationships. Increase efficiencies allowing you to work smarter rather than harder and longer.
When you contribute to meeting your company's strategic objectives by completing projects on time and on budget, you enhance your reputation. And, when you know how to organise, schedule and delegate tasks, you are impacting engagement and ultimately the productivity of your team.
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Congrats on getting through your unit to this point! So what have you done in this chapter? Well you've:Defined the role of a project managerRecognised the benefits of developing strong project management skillsIdentified the key characteristics of a project managerLooked at strategies to lead dynamic projectsSo what now? We recommend you put into practice some of the new skills, techniques and principles you’ve just learned. This is the best way we know, to ensure you know what you need to be successful on your journey – know what we mean? Now, let’s get into the next chapter!