Leadership in Project Management

One of the most discussed topics in business is leadership yet it remains one of the most elusive qualities to define.  Leadership is often blamed in times of failure and hailed in times of victory.  

A project in any business organization is a vital and critical undertaking that requires concentration and a full dedication from all participants. The overall success of any project is attributed mainly to the leaders of the particular project as they have all the authority to control and monitor every process of the project and make critical project decisions.

Within project management, leadership is also an issue of great interest.  It is often addressed by talking about qualities like trustworthiness, honesty, and motivation. It is also captured as key “soft skills” such as negotiation, team building, communication, and listening skills.

THE KEY ROLES OF A LEADER IN A PROJECT

In a project, the individual who is tasked for leading the selected team to achieve the objectives of the particular project, are referred to as project leaders or managers. The key roles of those leaders include :

1. Decision making – Any process that has to be conducted or an action that has to be taken in any particular angle of the project has to have the approval of the project leader as the decision-maker of the project. 
2. Planning – The leader is accountable for the entire project plan. The costs, schedules, and process plans are their responsibilities.
3. Management – Management of the entire project is the duty of the leaders.

The three key roles of project leaders give leadership a critical role in project management as these traits in the leaders determine the success or failure of the particular project.

ROLE OF LEADERSHIP IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Project management is a duty that requires the individuals tasked with it to employ effective leadership skills and traits to ensure the overall success of the project is benefitting both the project teams and the particular business organizations. The following are essential leadership qualities that ensure effective, successful, and reliable project management :

TEAM PLAYER, TRANSFORMATIONAL AND TEAM BUILDING TRAITS

A project is an undertaking that cannot be accomplished by an individual. Therefore, there has to be a project team that consists of individuals drawn from different departments who differ in characteristics, behavior, and ideological perspectives. Regardless of the project team’s composition, the key objective of the project has to be achieved. Therefore, as a project leader team player skills and traits are mandatory and necessary. The traits from leaders guarantee effective project management that results in the success of the project alongside benefitting both the project team and the particular organization. Below are some qualities the project leader should possess:

The following are some more qualities/traits that a leader should possess so as to lead a TEAM for a particular project and make it a success:

• Challenges: Leaders tend to look for challenges. Challenges lead to new ideas and improvements in the current processes.
• Motivation and Inspiration: Leaders motivate and inspire their people simply in the way they work with them. Successful project managers continuously develop leadership skills in motivating and inspiring teams.
• Impact and Influence: Effective leaders impact the entire organization and also people outside the organization. 
• Team Building: Leaders help the team members help each other, as they make their individual and group contributions toward achieving the project goals.
• Listening: Leaders are active listeners, understanding and considering the team members’ perspective before making team decisions that will affect the team.
• Negotiating: Leaders get the team members and project stakeholders to work effectively with one another, considering all parties with shared or opposed interests, with intent to compromise before reaching a team decision.
• Communication: Leaders create a project environment where team members can be honest and open in communicating with each other, understanding each team member’s communication style, and able to communicate effectively with project stakeholders.

So, concluding it all, Successful project managers are managers who practice both strong management skills and effective leadership skills. Leadership skills can be learned and leadership qualities can be developed. Effective leaders develop new leadership skills to complement those that made them successful as managers.

Written By – Tanu Bansal (Project Co-ordinator)