This guide covers all aspects of project management leadership.
It’s cool!
It is full of practical tips.
Why?
It is a result of my nine-years of experience in managing software development projects.
You’ll find the following information:
What is leadership in project management?
How to lead without authority and title
How to manage high-ranking experts (even if you are a junior PM).
What does a great project manager do for people?
How to build a team and honor your commitments
This guide will help you become a project manager people love to work with.
ContentsCHAPTER 1
Key Concepts of LeadershipCHAPTER 2.
Leadership without AuthorityCHAPTER 3
How to become a senior-level expertCHAPTER 4
The Best Project ManagerCHAPTER 5
How to build a PM teamCHAPTER 6
How to get commitment
CHAPTER 1
What does leadership mean in project management?
Let’s clarify what leadership means in project management.
You don’t have to force people to do the work as a project manager.
Positively influence others so they feel inspired to follow your project management approach and do their best to complete the tasks.
Let’s now break it down.
Leadership vs. management is a myth
I searched for leadership in project management. Surprisingly, the majority of search results were misleading.
Leadership is an integral part for me in project management.
Here’s what you’ll find:
In the article on ProjectManagement.com there is a table showing the distinctions between manager and leader:[image is taken from projectmanagement.com site]Or here is another article on pmi.org. These are the headlines:
“Leaders seek challenges; managers want to maintain the status quo.”
“Leaders Inspire and Motivate; Managers Control.”
“Leaders have a wide circle of influence; managers have limited influence.”
You’ll again see clear opposition between leadership and management.
So, what’s wrong?
I can see why being a leader is more appealing to me than being a project manager.
Leadership cannot replace project management. Leadership can only improve it.
Do not fall for the trap of shining leadership. Leadership and project management skills are required.
Project Management is the WHAT. Leadership offers the option of HOW to do it.
There are many other things to it:
What does leadership in project management mean?
There are many buzz words that relate to leadership.
Integrity
Consistency
Vision
Empathy
Calm down when under pressure
Team Builder
Competent
Decision Maker
Leadership is key to making management more efficient. Here are four examples of Project Management Leadership
But what does this mean in practice? What should a project manager do?
Let’s put these buzz words in context.
1. Encourage Continuous Improvement
Only one person is truly responsible for continuous improvement.
This is you, the project manager.
Others are responsible for their area of expertise, and for their tasks. However, someone must improve the entire system.
Continuous Improvement, in short, is the desire to make everything better, even if no one is watching.
It is not the same as gold plating. It is not about delivering more, but delivering more efficiently.
Here you will need to have integrity, consistency, as well as a vision of how to make it happen.
You must also set an example. If you don’t, no one will buy it.
You will have to be involved in conflicts a lot. Changes are not something that anyone likes.
2. Motivation is your responsibility
The Develop Project Team process includes the team’s motivation.
It is not about motivating people every day to go to work.
Simple paychecks are sufficient for this.
You need more as a project manager. You expect them to put heart and soul into the work that they do. You want them to grow professionally.
You will need to have a vision for the perfect team member, personal growth, and a plan.
