Are good project managers always good leaders?

Some project managers can really struggle with the idea of leadership – and perhaps more importantly, with finding the necessary opportunities to try to be true leaders. In many cases, this can make sense when a project manager does not, in fact, have direct responsibility for the individuals who make up their team. Yes, they are still expected to motivate and manage them in order to ensure that a project is delivered on, or under, budget and on time. For this reason, and this reason alone, the role of project manager requires more than a little tenacity. It also requires plenty of natural desire to actually lead.

This natural desire to lead is something that many people have, whilst others perhaps are lacking in confidence to believe in their own skills when it comes to leadership. They may have the right project management skills, but a little bit more practice is needed if they are to believe that they can lead.

There are certainly some crossovers between the two roles, so let’s look at just some of the things that can help make someone a good leader and project manager:

Good communication

Anyone involved in project management will tell you that everything comes back to good communication. If you are a good communicator, then you already have one of the basic skills that are essential for a role in project management.

A good leader is able to communicate in a way that not only engages a dialogue but also helps to establish a degree of authority within their team or department. A project manager is someone who leads a team, and they are not only in charge of all the project details, but they also help to ensure that there are healthy discussions, which will ensure great collaboration between the members of the team. This will be more likely to result in outcomes that are positive.

Whilst this is a good start, it is also important to be a great communicator and also to create project management leadership. In order to do this, it is important to ensure that all communication is kept in the open. Meeting notes need to be shared in a central space along with details of any conversations. The team need to be made aware of any decisions that are made, and if there are any complaints, know that they will be listened to respectfully. As a leader, you need to be listening, consulting, soliciting opinions and then making the decisions that are best for the team and the project.

Build trust

As the person who finds themselves sitting between stakeholders and a team, it can be somewhat difficult to inspire credibility and trust, especially when you need to keep timelines and budget at the top of your list. Unfortunately, people believe that you will be more concerned about these things than them. A good leader or manager will ensure that people are put first because, ultimately, without people, there really is no project.

Building trust is like building a relationship. It takes time, care and the ability to be available for those people in your team. When team members know that they can come to you with issues then a greater degree of trust is formed, and this can be a real boost for your project.

Lead change

A true leader is an individual who motivates and inspires. It is important for a project manager to use the knowledge gained from their PM courses to instigate any necessary changes within the projects they are in charge of. This might also include trying new processes and techniques, pushing boundaries and challenging ideas. It should be remembered that it is also okay to make mistakes, this can happen whilst you evolve the way in which your team work together and can help to lead successful projects in the future.

Be honest as a project manager

Project leaders often juggle a lot of information – personnel, financial, operational – and it can be difficult to know when to share or use this information. It is always best to use your instinct and be honest when you have information that might assist a member of the team or the project.

When you are facing a negative situation that has the potential to blow up, then you need to ensure you put a stop to it. You should assess the problem and look at the possible outcomes. If the situation is likely to affect someone, then they should be informed. Honesty is the best way to resolve conflict.

Think strategically

Whilst it is understandable that a project manager will always be aware of things like the project timescale and budget, it is important to focus your attention on other things as well. It is very important for both leaders and managers to consider the bigger picture and look at the potential long-term impact that might occur from any decisions. A good project manager is someone who focuses on the present in order to lead their team to success, whilst keeping an eye on the future by anticipating and planning their next steps and any potential issues.

When a team are brought into discussions about the project, ideas being considered, and decisions being made, then a project manager will always have a much clearer picture of exactly what is going on.

Lead first, manage second

Regardless of what you do as a project manager, it is important to remember that a project leader needs to lead their team to a successful conclusion of the project. This means managing all of the details and, when necessary, rising to the occasion and being a champion for the project.

There is a good chance that if you are a project manager then you are probably a good leader. This is one of those essential skills that is so vital in project management. However, it does not always follow that a great leader will be a good project manager as they do not always have the right accreditation or even skill set.