Leadership, Teamworking and Communication

How Important are Soft Skills on Projects?

People deliver projects, not processes. Effective project management requires a combination of 'hard' and 'soft' skills. Achieving the right level of consistency of "methods" on projects through common processes is of great value. However, if a project environment does not demonstrate 'team spirit', especially in challenging times, it is highly likely that this will impact the delivery performance of the project.

How do you create a healthy Project Environment?

A healthy project environment is created where there is a combination of effective leadership, together with competence in areas often described as 'soft skills'.

The ideal project environment is where Team members are:

• invited to contribute towards key decisions

• party to the 'bigger-picture', and don't operate in isolation

• informed why decisions are made, not just what they are

• encouraged to highlight risks and issues

• supportive of each other

and, there is:

• respect for each other and the team leader

• openness and honesty despite the level of challenge or issue.

Project Leadership

Good project managers must understand Project management concepts and techniques, but perhaps more importantly, provide effective leadership.

Leadership is very hard to define, but easy to notice when it is lacking. Effective leadership involves:

• motivation

• open communication

• effective delegation

• decision making

• being consistent

• being prepared to deal with issues and confronting situations

• involving the team in decisions while being prepared to make tough decisions

• being able to admit you are wrong if necessary

• leaving your ego at home!

Project Teamworking

Much is written about team building, which has an important role where relationships are not mature, as is typical at the start of projects.

There is also the related topic of teamworking. Teambuilding has its place at certain stages, to develop relationships, but teamworking applies to the practices and behaviours in evidence on a day-to-day basis, throughout the life of the project.

A decade ago a famous piece of research coined the expression 'high performance teams'. While this may be the pinnacle, most businesses should aim for minimum standards of teamworking to be achieved on all key projects. Where there are indications of issues with teamworking, it should be recognised as a major risk to a project. This applies to all key relationships, including those with external customers, suppliers and stakeholders.

One of the most important responsibilities of the project manger is to align and manage the expectations of all stakeholders, and to develop a common set of objectives for the project. Understanding and working towards a common and clear set of objectives is the single most important attribute of positive team oriented behaviour. Therefore, this must be one of the most important aims and responsibilities of a project manager.

Project Communication

Most people respond positively to being kept informed. Old fashioned management wisdom might say 'managers manage' and others 'do'. This results in communication vacuums, which is the opposite of best project management practice.

Communication is the lifeblood of projects. Open communication must be encouraged and managed. To avoid information overload, there are practices that can be employed, aligned to effective team based organisation, that can encourage participative communication.

Good personal communication skills are also vital if teams are to make effective and efficient progress. There are many forms of communication, but the most important, and sometimes the least practiced, is listening . Lack of care and attention to communication skills and processes will be a cause of major risks and issues on projects.

Executive Presentation: Benefits Effective Teamworking

PMIS has an Executive level Overview of: Benefits of Effective Teamworking and would be happy to work with you to deliver this to your organisation.

Email today to find out more on Project Leadership and Teamworking.

Links and References

Project Management Training Courses from PMIS

For more information on project leadership and related topics:

UK APM web site

About PMIS:

PMIS is a leading specialist provider of project management training, Prince2 training, APMP training course, project risk management training, benefits realisation training. Whether you are looking for public or tailored project management training, PMIS provides first-class earned value training, project management courses, IT project management training, and project manager certification.