What skills make a good project manager?

A good project manager can prove to be crucial to an organisation’s success, and help them to thrive even in the most challenging of environments and circumstances.  

Not only can good project managers significantly boost an organisation’s ability to come up with new and innovative solutions to address their business problems, but they can also improve their ability to deliver products and services to customers faster and more economically.  

This means good project managers can save organisations both time and money, and at the same time help to ensure organisations are keeping their customers happy and meeting their business goals. 

What is a project manager? 

A project manager is essentially responsible for the day-to-day management of a project and its end-to-end delivery – within a specific timeline and budget.  

Projects can range from small-scale projects, such as organising company events, right through to large-scale projects, such as an infrastructure project or new product launch. 

Because their role can often be so varied, covering anything from managing budgets and multidisciplinary project teams through to negotiating with clients and suppliers and organising launch events, project managers need to be multi-skilled in a range of areas. 

Some of the tasks a project manager may be required to perform include: 

• Project planning – including setting goals, timelines, budgets, and resourcing needs 

• Identifying and mitigating project risks 

• Managing multidisciplinary project teams 

• Maintaining the quality standard of work across teams 

• Ensuring that project teams deliver work on-time and within budget 

• Responding quickly to any challenges or changes required to project plans 

• Ensuring the project delivers on its goals and objectives – within the set timeline and budget 

What skills do you need to succeed as a project manager? 

To succeed, a project manager needs to both be able to multi-task and be multi-skilled. 

You don’t necessarily need to be an expert in one specific area, such as accounting or software development, to succeed as a project manager. But you do need to have an in-depth understanding of the project management processes, principles, and techniques, as well as the advanced communication and leadership skills required to successfully lead project teams and manage a project right through from the initiation phase through to the delivery phase. 

Learn more about the different stages of a project:

Some of the skills you need to succeed as a project manager include: 

• Communication skills 

• Leadership skills 

• Rapport-building skills 

• Budgeting and accountancy skills 

• Decision-making skills 

• Problem-solving skills 

• The ability to motivate teams 

• The ability to quickly respond and adapt to challenges and changes 

How a Master’s can help you gain the skills required to be a good project manager

Whether you’re looking to pursue a career as a project manager or already working as a project manager, a master’s degree can help you gain and further enhance the skills you need to be a good project manager. 

Project management is a complex discipline in itself – it covers a range of specific methodologies, principles, practical skills, and techniques that must be mastered and put into practice on a day-to-day basis for a project to run smoothly and be successful. 

A master’s in project management can equip you with all the essential knowledge and skills you need to succeed as a project manager in the global job market – now and into the future.  

You’ll learn: 

• The main concepts, principles, techniques, strategies, and tools related to project management 

• How to successfully manage projects in global environments 

• How to effectively lead and motivate teams 

• Budgeting and accounting skills 

• How to apply sustainable development practices and principles to your work as a project manager 

• A range of widely-used project management methodologies, such as Agile and PRINCE2® 

Equipped with all these essential skills and this knowledge base, you’ll be empowered to boost your confidence and capabilities as a highly-proficient project manager, and ensure your career as a project manager is successful and future-proof. 

If you’re looking to embark on an exciting new career as a project manager, or to take the next step in your career as a project manager, discover how Cambridge Education Group's MSc Project Management (validated by London South Bank University) can position you as a highly sought-after project manager in today’s global job market.