Research among
project managers globally identifies top communication skills for leading
teams.
Leading people -
the experiential side of project
management - is as important as task-based skills according to project
managers in Europe, the Middle East, India, America and Australasia.
In recent research
they said that communication is a critical skill for project success, both for
keeping team members up-to-date and for winning the support of key
stakeholders.
But which skills
make all the difference? Here are the top five respondents say have made all
the difference to their careers.
1. Active Listening
In first place is
our ability to listen to and understand others. Listening to the words and the
meaning behind their words, not interrupting or letting our minds wander,
asking questions to check understanding, observing non-verbal signals.
According to Indian
project
manager Nirav Patel CAPM: "The benefits include getting people to open
up and due to that lots of misunderstandings and conflicts can be
resolved."
2. Building Relationships based on Trust and Respect
Trust and respect
are the cornerstones of personal relationships. They are earned not a right and
come from experience of our honesty, integrity and expertise.
Among the
characteristics people used to determine our credibility are truthfulness,
openness, willingness to share ideas and information freely, consistency,
reliability, loyalty, capabilities and competence.
"Trust
encourages people to propose ideas, suggest ways to enhance work, speak of
their concerns and give advice," says Dubai-based Kareem Shaker PMP.
3. Setting Clear Priorities
In third spot is a project
manager's ability to convey the strategy for their team - by setting goals,
planning and prioritising. This is the what, who, when, where, why and how of
the project. Team members should understand both the big picture and the lower
level technical priorities.
"Essentially
this is what a project
manager does. If you can't do it you won't get everybody working on the
same page," says Australian Paul Ramussen.
4. Enabling Collaboration
In a collaborative
environment team members support and encourage each other rather than focusing
solely on their own tasks and responsibilities. They are willing to co-operate
and share information, ideas and assets to help each other. The result can be
greater than the sum of its parts.
"When we
collaborate we get the 1x1=3 effect. Things happen that might not have if
people had remained focused on their own work," says American Adam
Michaelson PMP.
5. Conveying the Organisation's Vision
Explaining the
bigger picture helps team members understand where the project fits within the
overall aims of your business unit and organisation. Senior executives are
focused on the triple bottom line - finances, environment, reputation - this is
where they expect your project to make a difference.
American Jhaymee
Wilson PMP says: "As project managers if we can't convey the link between
our project and the organisation how can we show we are delivering value?"
