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As project managers, we know how important our work is. Having good project managers/management helps organizations in all areas of business – period. Because of the impact COVID-19 has had on all industries, businesses need our help more than ever. And we owe it to them to help their businesses thrive and succeed. But, in the competitive landscape of project management firms/consulting firms, how can you and your work stand out? One answer is quite simple: Soft Skills. Soft skills are important for all areas of project management. Below are three reasons they add value:
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Influence
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A good project manager knows that influence is key. We do not want to micro-manage clients and just tell them what to do. Our job is to inspire them and give them the tools they need to complete key tasks. As Jennifer de Visser says “Learning how to influence boils down to learning about emotional intelligence and honing soft skills.” Developing and improving your soft skills is a must if you want to become better at influencing with power, not acting in an authoritarian way. Some of our favorite soft skills? Communication, adaptability, and especially in these stressful times, dependability.
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Problem Solving
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Problem solving is a soft skill and it is also a critical aspect of any good project management work. We have to solve our client problems, stakeholder problems, etc. To give our clients the good results they deserve, we must make sure we are not only solving all their key problems, but the right problems. Utilizing and building your problem-solving soft skills is the only way to do this correctly. Through these, you know how to ask the right questions to get to a real problem. How to get the client to open up and think big. You cannot have a successful project unless you are solving the right problems. It is the cornerstone for all other project work. .
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Motivation
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We’ve said it before, a huge “unofficial” role of a good project manager is a cheerleader. Clients and their staff can feel down, overwhelmed, and stress throughout a project. This is even more true now, with the pandemic impact and fatigue on businesses. By improving your soft skills, you can increase your ability to motivate clients. Motivation means encouragement, support, and helping clients remember the purpose and goal of the work you are doing with them. Take the “cheer” aspect of your job seriously. Help bring lightness to a stressed client. The effect will spread into all other areas of your project, and their business.
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Project management, and the need for us, is not going anywhere. As an industry, let’s commit to be being better together. Let’s commit to being softer, more understanding. We can show business leaders how to lead with compassion and motivation. Soft skills are truly the key to what makes great project managers. They are the tools we ALL need to be utilizing and building more. Improving your soft skills now will not only assist your current clients, it will also bring you stronger success in 2021 and beyond.
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Interested in learning more about developing your soft skills? Contact our team at Kim@QuantumMark.com today!
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