In the project profession, there is a common misconception that soft skills, often referred to as human or professional skills, such as communication and leadership, are innate qualities that project managers either possess or lack. This belief can lead to the undervaluation of these crucial skills, with many assuming they cannot be taught or developed.
However, soft skills are not merely inherent traits but competencies that can be cultivated and refined over time through training, experience, and practice. Understanding this opens up a world of development possibilities for project managers who strive to enhance their effectiveness and achieve even greater success.
When thinking about upskilling your project management abilities, soft skills can be a great place to start. But what are the soft skills that really matter in project management? Today, we’re exploring the top five most valuable soft skills that are indispensable in our current professional landscape.
Communication is the cornerstone of any project’s success. A project manager must articulate goals, expectations, and updates clearly and effectively to a variety of stakeholders, including team members, executives, and clients. Miscommunication can lead to misunderstandings, errors, and project delays.
Effective communication looks like:
How to boost effective communication:
Explore our communication training programmes.
Leadership in project management goes beyond assigning tasks. It involves inspiring and motivating team members, fostering a positive work environment, and leading by example. Strong leadership helps navigate challenges and steer the project towards its goals.
Inspiring leadership looks like:
How to boost inspiring leadership:
Lead with confidence with our authentic leadership for senior leaders training.
Conflict is inevitable in any team setting, but how it is managed can significantly impact a project’s outcome. A project manager needs to address conflicts promptly and constructively to maintain team harmony and productivity.
Navigating conflict successfully looks like:
How to boost conflict resolution:
Adopt sensitivity and ethical considerations with our difficult conversations made easy virtual training.
Effective time management is crucial for meeting project deadlines and maintaining a balanced workload to prevent burnout. A project manager must prioritise tasks, manage schedules, and ensure the team stays on track.
Efficient time management looks like:
How to boost time management:
Manage time pressures and stress with our personal effectiveness: resilience and managing stress virtual course.
The ability to adapt to changing circumstances is a vital skill for project managers. Projects often encounter unforeseen challenges and changes in scope, requiring flexibility and a proactive approach to problem-solving.
Thriving in adaptability looks like:
How to boost adaptability:
Demonstrate adaptability and lead by example with our leading during periods of change virtual classroom training.
By honing these skills, project managers can navigate the complexities of project management, foster a collaborative team environment, and achieve project objectives with greater efficiency and satisfaction. These soft skills not only enhance individual performance but also contribute to the overall success and growth of the organisation.
When considering professional development for project managers, the first port of call is often technical skills that support project methodologies and frameworks. However, soft skills help project managers be creative in their thinking, increase innovation, and better manage the people and environment of the project. While soft skills cannot be easily assessed or tested, they can be clear through your actions as a project manager and the outcomes of your projects.
While soft skills can be developed through experience and acquired over time, business skills training can help to develop soft skills and offer fresh approaches and ideas to common project challenges.
Discover how a partnership with ILX could help build vital soft skills in your employees, and improve project outcomes.