10 Characteristics of Success Project Leaders

Not long ago the Project Management Institute PMI © conducted a survey to identify the top 10 characteristics of successful project leaders. Below is a summary of those findings.


Inspires a Shared Vision

An effective project leader is often described as having a vision of where to go and the ability to articulate it. They empower people to experience the vision on their own, and to envision their future as part of the vision for the organization.


Good Communicator

The ability to communicate with people across the spectrum is always one of the essential qualities of any successful project manager. Project leadership calls for clear communication about goals, performance, responsibility and expectations.


Integrity

Project managers must always remember that actions speak louder than words. Good leadership requires commitment to, and demonstration of, ethical practices.


Enthusiasm

People will follow others who have a unique perspective on things. We more committed to leaders who have a positive, “can-do” attitude. Enthusiastic leaders are committed to their goals and express this commitment through optimism.


Empathy

The ability to understand and share the feelings of others is an important characteristic of any successful project leader. Project leaders cannot be looked upon simply as rigid task masters, whose only goal is to complete the project at all costs. They must have the ability to understand and empathize with those whom they lead.


Competence

We must believe that the person we’re following knows what he or she is doing. This not only goes for technical expertise, but is further described as the ability to successfully lead a group of people towards a stated goal.


Ability to Delegate

Trust is a fundamental element in a relationship between a project leader and his/her team. One way to demonstrate this trust is to allow others to participate and take on added responsibility.


Calm, Cool and Collected

Since we don’t live in a perfect world, very few projects are delivered under budget and with no major problems or obstacles. Therefore, it is essential that a project leader takes problems in stride, with the ability to turn a problem into an opportunity.


Team Building Skills

In order for a team to progress from a group of strangers to a single cohesive unit, the leader must understand the process and dynamics required for this transformation.


Problem Solving Ability

Although an effective leader is said to share problem-solving responsibilities with the team, we expect our project leaders to have excellent problem-solving skills themselves.