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Project manager at a meeting with his team.

Category: Succeed as a consultant

Key considerations for aspiring project managers

This article serves as a guide to all aspiring project managers, discussing important considerations and essential skills needed to excel in this dynamic career.

Gartner predicts that the role of project manager (PM) is expected to be one of the fastest growing positions in the project management office. It’s good news for project managers, but with a rapidly changing technological landscape, what can you expect from the role today and how can you equip yourself with the skills you need to excel?

The essential role of a project manager

Across all professions, roles are changing to meet new tech-driven expectations and to seize the opportunities they bring.

While the role of project manager is no different, managing scope, budget, risk, resource allocation, scheduling and quality remain key facets of the role and are essential for successful project delivery.

With effective project management, greater cost and time efficiencies are realised, risks are more readily mitigated and better results are delivered. A capable project manager in the driving seat means unexpected hurdles are keenly anticipated, and with objectives met more swiftly, customer satisfaction and team development flourish.

A capable project manager in the driving seat means unexpected hurdles are keenly anticipated, and with objectives met more swiftly, customer satisfaction and team development flourish.

The challenges project managers face

The role of project manager does not come without its challenges. Effective planning, management and execution are the cornerstones of successful projects, but unrealistic time scales, scope creep and ambiguous objectives are typical obstacles that stand in the way of project management efficacy.

Changing course during the lifecycle of a project is often necessary, but when requirements increase without effective controls, the impact on budget, resources and timescales can significantly hinder the chances of delivering results.

Results can also be impacted through poor communication. This may be through miscommunication, a lack of communication or ineffective communication. But it’s not all about how the PM converses and exchanges information, it’s also their ability to encourage and engage all project stakeholders and team members.

Holding regular status meetings, delivering reports and budget updates are not only effective forms of communication but they also help to avoid ambiguous project objectives and address the challenges of risk & resource allocation early on.

It’s not just about how the project manager converses and exchanges information, they also need to encourage and engage all project stakeholders and team members.

How the project manager role is evolving

While the fundamental challenges of project management will arguably always exist, the PM is presented with both opportunities and challenges as the role evolves in stride with technological transformation. Gartner estimates that by 2026, two-thirds of PM skills and roles will be redesigned to meet the needs of their new operating context.

Digital disruption has led to increased adoption of generative AI, automation and data analytics, helping to drive productivity, harness scalability, and facilitate more sophisticated collaboration. Automating manual data analysis processes, using predictive analytics to estimate costs and timescales, and reducing routine tasks through the use of new technologies make room for more strategic thinking on the project manager’s behalf.

A man and a woman discussing work in the office.

But with these digital advantages come new expectations to not simply ‘manage projects’ – project managers are now expected to drive transformative outcomes, become the lynchpin in meeting strategic objectives, and be the ones who propel innovation. A new and important responsibility of project managers today is therefore to delegate work: make the best decisions on what tools are needed, who should use them, and when.

Developing your skills as a project manager

Despite the advantages of new technologies, the complexity of large-scale initiatives still requires the nuanced approach of a PM, albeit one with a more honed, dynamic and adaptable skill set.

Professional development designed to upskill project managers at various stages of the PM career journey is poised to become more essential to professional success. The right coaching will help PMs become more adept at taking on new challenges, more confident in their abilities and more prepared for making critical strategic decisions.

The aim of any project management training is to help managers become strong and effective leaders, develop strategic capabilities, and to master the art of project execution. For those at the beginning of their career, learning how to identify and mitigate risks, manage stakeholders and improve scope management will help you grasp and know how to implement the basic concepts and tools for project delivery.

For those at a more advanced stage of their career, gaining new insights on project management from a global perspective and refining project execution skills and how to employ the best methodologies will extend and cultivate your existing skills as you progress.

A new and important responsibility of project managers today is to delegate work: make the best decisions on what tools are needed, who should use them, and when.

To summarize

Despite leadership and time management skills, as well as the ability to communicate and make rapid decisions in an ever-evolving global business environment, project managers should anticipate meeting challenges on their journey.

In exchange, you will gain the opportunity for a role that is often rewarding and always diverse. Arming yourself with up-to-date and in-depth knowledge and skills will be pivotal to success and in helping you prepare for the demands on PMs today and tomorrow.

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Key considerations for aspiring project managers

The essential role of a project manager

A capable project manager in the driving seat means unexpected hurdles are keenly anticipated, and with objectives met more swiftly, customer satisfaction and team development flourish.

The challenges project managers face

It’s not just about how the project manager converses and exchanges information, they also need to encourage and engage all project stakeholders and team members.

How the project manager role is evolving

Developing your skills as a project manager

A new and important responsibility of project managers today is to delegate work: make the best decisions on what tools are needed, who should use them, and when.

To summarize

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