Congratulations! Congratulations! You have been promoted to project manager. Congratulations! It’s something you’ve long longed for and you definitely deserve it. There will be adjustments. Leadership is different than what you have done before. Your technical skills and ability take orders are not helpful when you’re delegating. Interpersonal skills are crucial. It doesn’t matter what project management tools you have.
Before we get into the management skills, let me make one point. Despite what some may say, leadership is not something you can be born with. Leadership is something you can learn. It takes practice, dedication, learning and intentional learning. This should be both terrifying and liberating. It’s scary because you might just be suck. It’s liberating to realize that even though you may be terrible in the beginning, it doesn’t mean you will be forever. You can always improve. You just have to put your mind to it.
Good? These skills are good.
1. Communicate the big picture
You must realize that you are only responsible for the big picture, while those below you are responsible for the details. This means you cannot tell every sailor how to row their boat.
Yes, that’s right, it’s a metaphor about micromanagement. Micromanaging will make you hate your team and leave you unable to manage the chaos. This will be bad news for everyone. It is important to see the big picture. Everyone must understand their role. Let them play their part.
2. Form a team
Great leaders inspire others to be better. You don’t have to be a leader, but you also need to give your people the opportunity to grow. Let them excel in what they do.
You could host workshops, have regular conversations about improving, or just sit down and listen. You don’t have to interrupt, interrupt or defend yourself. Ensure sure you’re doing it right.
3. Superior communication skills
Communication is the key to being a great leader. Many people don’t realize how bad they are at communicating. Numerous reports have shown that many companies find their graduates to be terrible communicators. Graduates think they are great at it. This leads to them not improving their communication skills. This is a disaster for both the graduates and the people they work with.
Do not be like these graduates. You can always improve communication skills.
4. Find the solution
Leaders are able to find solutions for others when they complain. Leaders must solve the problem and not dwell on it. This requires creativity and thinking outside the box.
It is important to know who in your team can do which tasks. You must also ensure that you have the right person to talk about the problem. This person is more likely to provide a solution than anyone else, or at least the key piece that will help you find it.
5. Delegate
You should also learn delegation. It is not an easy skill to master. It requires trusting others to complete their tasks. It involves knowing what each person can do and what they can’t.
This is not something to do after a hurricane strikes. This is why it is important to start to identify the possibilities while the waters are calm. This will allow you to determine who is capable of doing what so that the ship doesn’t capsize in a storm.
6. Optimism
You are not the anchor to be pulled, but the sail that propels your team forward. Keep your positive attitude. If they don’t believe in you, it’s like you’re telling them they won’t be able overcome the challenges ahead.
