Being an effective project manager

Topic: Being an Effective Project Manager
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Introduction
Project management has gone through significant development to reach its current form with various organizations having anentirely different notion of the activity. Unlike in the past when project management emphasized mostly in providing schedules and alternateinformation to top management in the military and construction industries, presently project management entails more, and technological advancements are significant elements in successful projects achievements (Schwalbe, 2009). Projects are usually temporary in nature, with an aim to create specific items, services or result. This implies that they are bound to come to an end and thus proper planning for the activities to achieve end goal is critical. Even though, projects may overlap, each project is usually unique in its own way. Each is controlled differently by its budget constraints, time, and scope (Grey, 2008). In order to manage all these aspects of a project, it is vital that the leader bare certain qualities that will help see through to the success of the project.Working in a FMCG industry where new projects come in every day with some overlapping with each other, I had an opportunity to gain much experience with certain qualities that are required to make an effective project manager. There are certainly some characteristics traits that when present in individuals will most likely make them effective project leaders.
Qualities of an Effective Project Manager
To be an effective project lead, a person should have visionary qualities, the ability, and determination to accomplish it. Creative thinkers always prosper on change and are always able to draft new boundaries. This is important especially in the FMCG where there are other competitors in the market and what makes a difference is the way a firm portrays itself in terms of innovation. Such leaders also make the team members to feel like they own the project. Bennis purports they give other people involved in the project to create their own vision, explore, and envision their prospects as part of the visualization of the organization(Bennis & Goldsmith, 2012).
Ability to communicate effectively with others staff members in the firm and project members play asignificantpart in the realization of a project. It is essentialthat the project leader to communicate clearly the intended goals, duties, actions, expectations, and feedback. A great deal is placed on the value of being open and direct as well. An effective leader should be able to negotiate sufficiently and be persuasive whenever necessary if the project is to be achieved successfully. It is by way of effective communication that team leaders boost team members’ accomplishments through creating categorical guidelines for realizing goals and career development of the members(Bennis & Goldsmith, 2012).
Leadership calls for enthusiasm. Nobody would like a leader who is negative minded. Everybody wants a leader who is always positive thinking, with a can-do attitude. Members always wish to feel like being part of a stimulating journey, making them feel alive. People always tend to follow positive attitude lead, not those who would give 100 r...