5 Traits of Bad Project Managers
I’ve worked with a few in my time and I was pondering this the other day when a friend told me they didn’t rate someone as a good Project Manager.
I’m sure there are more than 5 traits but these are the main ones that hit me square in the face when I thought of the main traits of bad project managers.
1. Poor Communication
This is a very general point but I’ve put it at number 1 for this main reason. Communication to me covers:
- How you communicate
- What you communicate
- Communication response times
- Communication transparency
I think you need skills and experience in all these areas to ensure you are, at the very least, ensuring project or program success. If you have trouble explaining things or articulating what you want to say then you’ll struggle with managing a project.
A project manager is expected to lead the team, deliver presentations and documentation, chair meetings and be confident in speaking and working with a range of people. If you can’t communicate, the project will fail.
2. Poor Time Management
If you can’t manage your own time effectively then you’re never going to manage a project and the timescales associated effectively. Meeting deadlines and delivering within tight timescales is fundamental and if you can’t do this then the rest of the team, and your clients, are going to lost patience and confidence in your abilities.
3. Poor Stress Management
Stress and dealing with it is all in a day’s work as a Project Manager, you get it from everyone and at every level and stage throughout the project. Even when the project is closed you still have things that stress you out!
If you find you’re not particularly apt at dealing with pressure, then quit immediately!
4. Poor Team Collaboration
If you can’t work as part of a team and would prefer to act on your own then you need to assess your position quickly. I’ve never met a good project manager who hasn’t been able to work as part of a team, and bring the best out of both the team and the individuals within to deliver great work.
5. Poor Vision
You need to be able to see both the bigger picture and the granular level of a project, this is something that you get good at over time and learn the ability to know what level you need to go to.
If you’re finding you can’t intrinsically link the project into the overall business goals and other streams, while at the same time you can’t get your head around the finer points of a project, then you will struggle.
Thanks,
Tony
