A construction project manager takes on many responsibilities and challenges. Meeting the goals of a project requires attention to detail and the ability to create a collaborative environment. Inefficiency on the project manager’s part can create hazards for workers and lead to monetary losses. Here are some of the qualities you should look for in a project manager.
- Knowing how to delegate. As the team leader, the project manager will be overseeing a range of functions. While the manager has ultimate responsibility for the outcome, delegation of tasks is always necessary. A project manager should know how to exercise control without becoming overbearing.
- Good communication skills. During the course of a single project the project manager will interact with people from various backgrounds and with different skills. The ability to communicate in these situations is considered vital to the outcome. Everyone involved should have a clear understanding of their responsibilities and should feel comfortable providing feedback.
- Project managers are often chosen based on their training, skill and experience. These factors indicate a high level of competence and build a sense of trust. Project management requires overseeing limited resources and responding quickly to unforeseen challenges. This professional should be able to inspire team members to do their best work. This is not possible without a high level of competence.
- The ability to solve problems. While the team leader must be able to delegate, all eyes will turn in his or direction if a major problem arises. Teams should have confidence in the project manager’s ability to respond to these situations and keep them on track.
- Team building skills. Any good leader should know how to develop and constantly motivate teams to achieve project goals. For various teams with different responsibilities to meet the same goal, there must be clear direction and strong leadership. The project manager must be able to bring people together and adjust the leadership style to suit different situations.
- Being a visionary. A visionary is not just someone with ideas, but also someone who can get others to believe in their ideas. In this case, the project manager must get the teams to believe in the project and to feel like they are making a worthwhile contribution to the outcome.
- Strong ethics. Good leaders always set the example and this is no different for project managers. Their actions should always be ethical and reflect the best practices of their profession. This enhances the reputation of the project manager and the company.
Project managers work in high-pressure environments and must be able to build trust and respect among team members. Possessing the qualities listed above will make this possible, and virtually assures the success of any project.