AtTask

Organizations doing project based work focus a lot on creating repeatable processes and sustainable methodology—which is how it should be. However, what separates the good projects from the great projects is not the particular project management tools they use or the work management methodology employed—it's often the soft skills that make the difference between a successful project and a project that struggles. Yesterday, Cindi Smith posted a blog titled, Does a Successful Project Manager = a Successful Project. It initiated a conversation or two on Twitter about the soft skills project managers need to successfully manage projects. To continue the conversation, I thought I'd list five of the traits I thought were important for project managers to master:

A collaborative management style: Engaging the team and stakeholders in problem-solving and decision-making is a skill that helps ensure successful projects.
Adaptability: Project teams and individual projects are always different. Successful project managers are able to adapt and overcome the challenges new projects present. A fluid project management approach is a very effective method for successful work management.
"Figure-it-out" resourcefulness: This implies creativity and occasional out-of-the-box thinking to solve problems along with a tenacious, never-give-up approach to overcoming obstacles and resource-allocation issues.
Highly-developed communication skills: It's paramount that project managers are able to effectively communicate with stakeholders, project teams, and their peers. If project managers are unable to customize their communication style to the appropriate audience, success will be elusive.
Flexibility: Adapted from a line in To a Mouse, by Robert Burns, "The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry." No matter how well a project is planned, there will always be something or someone that throws a monkey-wrench into the works. Flexibility is the genesis of creative thinking—which is critical for project success.