7 Best Habits of an Effective Project Manager

The good news is that even if you don't already possess all of these characteristics, the majority of them may be acquired through time. I've even included them as learnable things in my own PMP training courses. Most importantly, if you can cultivate these characteristics, you will become more effective in all aspects of your life.

Effective Project Managers Are Lifelong Learners

You're probably on a high learning curve right now if you're new to project management.

Maybe you persuade yourself that once you've been doing it for a while, things will get better. There will be less to learn. Everything will function smoothly if you have systems in place.

Unfortunately, I believe this to be a myth. I've been managing projects for a long time, and I'm continuously looking for ways to improve. Just as I think I've figured out one aspect, nagging thoughts emerge from the woodwork, urging me to work more effectively with my teams. You must continue to study if you want to be the greatest project manager you can be. You must stay on your toes when it comes to training classes, blogs, books, and podcasts. Curiosity and a desire to learn, on the other hand, keep you young and your brain functioning. A passion for studying will prepare you not just for a good career, but also for a successful and happy life.

Effective Project Managers Are Clear Communicators

This point cannot be overstated.

Isn't it true that 90% of project management is communication? I'm not sure about putting a percentage on it, but it has a lot to do with whether or not you succeed as a project manager. Your teams will be stressed, you will be stressed, and your customers and stakeholders will be stressed if there is no clear communication. This isn't good.

Effective Project Managers Are Analytical

Project managers who are successful see their projects as systems. One of the most effective methods to approach a project work method and identify areas for improvement is to use systems thinking. To be an effective project manager, you must be able to find opportunities for improvement by analyzing how you and your teams function objectively. What is the workflow like? What exactly is a value stream? Where are the stumbling blocks?

Effective Project Managers Are Focused

Successful project managers maintain a laser-like focus on the goal for themselves and their staff. A skilled project manager can shield her team from multitasking by using systems like Kanban or other priority processes when Adhoc requests rush in.

Effective Project Managers Value Planning

Successful project managers recognize the benefits of collaborating with their teams when it comes to planning. They also understand that plans can alter and that the planning process is often more important than the plan itself. They practice, try new things, practice some more, take PMP training to gain new insights, and practice some more to get good at this.

Effective Project Managers Are Empathetic

I don't mean being overly sentimental or compassionate. Empathy is just the ability to step outside of one's own head in order to get perspective. Successful project managers are able to put themselves in the shoes of others and thus gain a deeper understanding of them. Empathetically managing your team and stakeholders is essential if you want to truly understand what's going on with your project and how to bring all of the various bits and parts together to achieve a common goal.

Effective Project Managers Are Self-Starters

Absolutely critical.

No one is going to give you what you need on a silver platter. It's up to you to go out and acquire it. When a good project manager detects a misunderstanding, he goes after it with a vengeance. It is HIS responsibility to do so. It's not acceptable to throw your hands in the air and declare, "OK, but I'm going to set the building on fire." If you want to be an excellent project manager, passive-aggressive behavior will not work.

Need more insights on the same? Enroll in a PMP course and training program today!

Richard Pierce An expert in Pmi and Iiba Certifications.