Leadership Skills for Project Managers

This essay discusses the leadership skills required for project managers, conflicts in projects, and questions to ask during staffing. It also explores the causes of conflicts in projects and possible ways to resolve them.

Running head: PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Project Management
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Introduction
This particular essay deals with the leadership skills of the project managers. It also talks
about the conflicts that arise during the ongoing projects and the various solutions for the
same. The possible questions to be asked during the staffing process are also discussed. The
project management aligns project with the strategies of business and the project managers
oversee the execution and planning of the project to ensure the goals of the project.
Leadership skills for project managers
Project managers successfully complete the assigned project task by the help of the
different teams. They obtain the required business, technical and leadership skills in order to
help the team members in the given task. They apply the leadership skills effectively in order
to motivate the teams in effectively completing the project objectives and deliverable to
achieve the goals of the project. The necessary leadership skills for the project managers’ are-
 Motivating and inspiring- Leaders develop a vision statement and continuously
communicate the vision statement in the entire organization and the respective teams
working on the project to achieve the goals. Leaders motivate and keep the team
members enthusiastic in completing the task. They encourage the members to give
their best and accomplish the task effectively (Kerzner & Kerzner, 2017).
 Team building- Leaders encourage the team members to help one another as
individual and group assistance helps in achieving the goals. Building the team spirit
is the task of the leader so the team members work in harmony and support each other
during the time of challenges.
 Negotiating and communicating- Leaders help the team members and the stakeholders
of the project to complete the project effectively considering all the members with

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shared vision, interest. Leader should have the negotiating and convincing power so
that in times of difficulties, the team members come forward to jointly complete the
task. Leaders create an environment of the project where the members of the team can
be honest in sharing their thoughts and new ideas.
 Listening and influencing- Leaders should be active listeners in order to understand
and comprehend the communication of the team members. It will help in
understanding the perspective of the members before taking any decision, which will
directly or indirectly affect the team. Leaders work with the members who collaborate
and cooperate with each other to achieve the goal of the project and in turn the
organization.
Several questions you would ask when staffing projects to ensure success
Various questions are asked while staffing project. These are as follows-
 Tell us something about yourself
 What according to you are essential skills for successfully completing a project?
 What will be your approach to begin a newly assigned project?
 What are the main objectives of an assigned project?
 Where do you see yourself in the 5 years time?
 How essential is it for the project managers to be proactive?
 Can you explain some of the projects that you have handled previously?
 What are the areas of knowledge that is relevant to doing a project?
 Describe all the steps that are involved from the start of the project to its completion?
 What qualities are requires to be an effective project manager?
 Did you colleagues or your manager ever question your decision? If yes, then why?
 What are the challenges you have faced in doing a project?

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 How do you ensure that you the members of the team stay in the right direction in
order to meet the project deadlines?
 Do you understand the concept of Pareto Principle?
 Do you think integrity is an important quality of a project manager?
 What would a project manager do when the customer is not satisfied with the product
delivered?
 How should a project manager communicate failure to the team?
 What kinds of projects interests you the most and why?
 What are the various types of project management tools you have worked with?
 What kind of people do you find difficult to work with?
 What kind of projects you would not want to do?
 How do you keep your team members motivated?
 How do you review and monitor the delegated responsibilities?
 What motivates you to give your best to your projects?
 How do you deal with changes to your project?
 What is your work style?
 How do you improve your knowledge regarding managing project?
What do you believe are the major causes of conflicts and what are the
different possible ways of resolving such problems?
The major causes of conflicts in a project are-
1. Different interests of the stakeholders: Every project has many stakeholders- vendors,
customers, management, external contractors, project management team and many
more. Conflicts arise mainly due to the differences in interest and point of view of the
various stakeholders (Kerzner & Kerzner, 2017). The customers usually require a

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unique product, which transforms the way they usually function. On the other hand,
the manufacturing team wants a straightforward and simple product without any
complications. Whereas the marketing team wants an innovative product that will
attract the customers. Conflicts thus, arise even before the beginning of the project.
2. Change in scope- During the progress of the project, change in scope evokes a trouble
in the team. For example: A manufacturing unit has started to work on a project to
manufacture smart phones with android software. The team has planned the design of
the project. After 6 months from the start of the project, the management team decides
to change the software from android to Windows. The design team is likely to
vehemently disagree giving rise to major conflicts between the designing team and the
management.
3. Project management style- The various project management styles of the project
managers can trigger problems. A process-oriented and disciplined manager will not
be getting along with the creative team very easily. For example: If a creative team is
making a TV advertisement for a brand, they will use innovate new ideas to
incorporate the project whereas the strict the manger will not allow the team to go
beyond the project structure and guideline. Thus, conflict is bound to arise between
the team and the manager (Kerzner & Kerzner, 2017).
The different possible solutions are –
1. Preparation: Conflicts might be lead to ugly endings. Constructive and healthy fights
are an essential feature of highly productive teams. The team members should respect
each other’s opinion and maturely handle the dispute. Resolving the problem requires
a preparation. Acknowledging the conflict and discussing the impacts on the project
and the team would help to resolve the problem.

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2. Understand the situation: The next step of resolving a problem is to understand the
root of the problem and point of view of every team member. It is essential to listen to
everyone’s problem, address the issue and ensure concern in order to curb down the
heated up situation.
3. Reach an agreement: When both the parties listen to each other’s proposals and major
concerns, they should understand the consequences of such an issue and come to a
mid way in order to resolve the problem (Kerzner & Kerzner, 2017). If an agreement
is not reached at that moment, then it is necessary to make sure that both the parties
will resolve and begin the task in a day’s time. Acknowledgement by the project
manager is essential in order to understand the contributions of the team members in
resolving the problem and executing the project.
The team leaders are expected to listen, understand and comprehend the situation keeping the
focus on solutions while respecting everyone’s opinion.
Conclusion
Thus, it can be concluded that various leadership qualities are necessary to be a project
manager. It can also be concluded that the team members, team managers and other
employees face various problems and conflict during the tasks. They find several ways to
resolve the issues in order to deliver the task effectively and fulfill the goals of the
organization.
References
Kerzner, H., & Kerzner, H. R. (2017). Project management: a systems approach to planning,
scheduling, and controlling. John Wiley & Sons.

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