25 Essential Project Management Skills You Need to Succeed

Are these skills part of your arsenal?

Reviewed by Chris Leitch

A woman demonstrating her project management skills

Project management is the process that takes a standout idea and transforms it into a brand-new product or service. By utilizing a combination of tools, techniques and knowledge, project managers identify the most suitable team members and approach for each deliverable, and orchestrate the execution, meeting client expectations and adhering to budgets.

So, how exactly do they do it? In this article, we’ll look at a number of soft and technical skills that successful project managers develop and make use of, keeping their team members motivated, productive and on track.

1. Knowledge of PM methodologies

There are various project management methodologies (or PMMs), each implementing a different set of tools and guidelines for optimizing a team’s efficiency and performance. Some examples include the agile, scrum, waterfall and lean methodologies.

The more familiar a manager is with different PMMs, the more accurately they can select the right framework for the project they’ve been asked to oversee and deliver.

2. Computer skills

Also known as digital skills, computer skills are prevalent across the majority of industries. In fact, 92% of all professions now require some level of competence using computer tools and software.

For project managers specifically, digital skills are a must. Some of the most sought-after skills in project management include proficiency in tools like Asana, AutoCAD, Microsoft Project, Wrike and Jira.

PM tools are as varied as PM frameworks: mastering several of them allows project managers to pick and choose the most appropriate ones for every situation.

3. Leadership

Unlike IT skills, which are technical, leadership skills are soft skills, meaning they are somewhat harder to teach and measure.

The umbrella term “leadership” encompasses a range of transferable skills that, when applied in synchronicity, enable managers to guide and support their teams effectively to hit their targets. Some key leadership skills include adaptability, problem solving, empathy and delegation, all of which we will outline in more detail below.

4. Adaptability

To paraphrase Charles Darwin, the one who is most adaptable to change is the one who survives. Although we’re talking about project managers here and not iguanas, giant tortoises and finches, the same holds true: the quicker a person can be to accept unanticipated changes, the faster they can devise workarounds.

Whether we like it or not, our professional lives can be full of surprises; some great, and others not so much. A growth mindset, therefore, can work in our favor, particularly where others also depend on us.

5. Critical thinking

Perhaps one of the most important project management skills is critical thinking.

Critical thinking refers to the process of asking questions, analyzing information and arriving at informed conclusions using evidence. As such, it is an essential component in effective problem solving and decision making, which PMs are so often called to undertake.

6. Proactivity

As the proverb goes: prevention is better than cure. Although leaders should also be able to address and solve problems as and when they arise, anticipating them and preventing them from occurring in the first place is another vital skill.

Proactivity can keep a team’s collective stress to a healthy level, preserving everyone’s productivity and motivation, thus saving precious time and resources.

7. Project forecasting

Speaking of proactivity, a process that incorporates being proactive into project management is that of forecasting. It essentially refers to the process of making predictions regarding the future of a project by looking at various metrics such as cost and duration, which speak to the team’s overall progress.

Depending on the project forecast they arrive at, a PM might adjust the project’s trajectory as needed.

8. Project tracking

Like project forecasting (which it goes hand-in-hand with), project tracking is another method PMs use to assess a project’s health. The process entails looking at the various project milestones and assessing whether progress is being made at the required pace.

By knowing how far along the team has gotten and exactly where they’re at at any given moment, PMs can better allocate resources and prevent problems from occurring.

9. Team management

Perhaps the biggest asset of any company are its people; without their knowledge, ideas and effort, business operations would simply not be possible. On a smaller scale, the same applies to teams working on specific projects.

When PMs know, value and support their colleagues, strong teams can be formed, facilitating collaboration and producing great results.

10. Organization

In the words of Alan Alexander Milne (that’s Winnie the Pooh’s creator, for those who don’t know), “Organizing is something you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up.”

When your company’s financial wellbeing and client satisfaction depend on your ability to not get it “all mixed up”, organization becomes a crucial component to have in your skill set.

11. Communication

Besides their technical know-how, project managers also rely on their interpersonal skills to get the job done — with verbal and written communication being, perhaps, the most central of these people skills.

When a PM can clearly and concisely convey what needs to be done, by whom and when, everyone on the team can get on with their work in a more efficient way. But although communication can start with effectively expressing yourself, it doesn’t end there; being able to actively listen is just as essential in ensuring you’re on the same page with someone.

12. Time management

Time management is one of those workplace skills that come in handy in virtually all roles and industries. But for project managers, it’s not just a nice-to-have; without it, leading a team effectively becomes impossible.

While managing their own time, sometimes splitting it across two (or more) projects, PMs are also overseeing their team members and how they are managing their time. (Is it just us, or is this starting to sound a bit like Inception?)

13. Budgeting

Project budgeting is the process of estimating the anticipated costs of a project, and as such is a critical component of project planning. But although it happens during the initial planning stages, it’s important for project managers to review budgets at different phases of the project, if and as needed.

14. Collaboration

Collaboration skills refer to an individual’s ability to work with others on achieving a common goal. Though a bit different to teamwork (which we cover further down the list), collaboration still requires a strong mix of other soft skills including communication, reliability, time management and organization.

In diverse teams, effective collaboration also requires solid cultural awareness, as differences in verbal and nonverbal communication can otherwise get in the way of success.

15. Research

Research skills play a vital role in finding the most appropriate solutions to problems and ensuring effective decision making. In the workplace, a project manager’s ability to gather and analyze data can make or break an entire team’s efforts.

The better they are at it, the more effectively they can carry out project forecasting, for example, and make specific and calculated adjustments as needed.

16. Risk management

Another top skill for PMs is risk management.

Risk management refers to the process of identifying and assessing potential risks in any project and keeping them under control. Depending on the nature of a project, these risks can be strategic, financial or legal, and can pose threats to the organization’s profits and operations if left unchecked.

As we keep seeing, the ability to think and act proactively is of great importance in project management.

17. Problem solving

Whether you’re at the start of your career or further along your professional path, you will have noticed how frequently and unexpectedly issues can crop up in the workplace.

They can be varied, too: problems with software or hardware not working as it should; arguments between colleagues; misunderstandings with clients; and team members struggling or failing to carry out their work as expected.

That’s why those in managerial positions need to have a knack for thinking on their feet and coming up with effective solutions as promptly as possible.

18. Negotiation

Negotiation is an interpersonal skill that, when applied effectively, allows people to reach agreements with colleagues or clients that are of value to everyone involved.

Apt negotiators can also keep conflict to a minimum as a result, which can be highly beneficial for a team — especially when deadlines start approaching and stress levels begin to climb.

19. Conflict resolution

Speaking of conflict, project managers are in charge of groups of people, ensuring that everyone is getting along with their work, both individually and collaboratively.

Sadly, even the most well-behaved, well-meaning employees can sometimes find themselves caught up in disagreements, and PMs will have to do their best to resolve that before it starts to negatively impact progress and causes costly delays.

20. Motivation

Another important leadership skill for PMs to master is motivation.

When working under tight deadlines (and especially when problems unexpectedly arise), employees can start to struggle with their engagement and productivity. Tiredness and stress can take over, harming team morale; so, it’s important for a leader to instill that sense of enthusiasm and accomplishment in the group once more.

21. Skills management

In simple terms, skills management refers to the act of matching skills (the individuals who possess them, that is) to roles and responsibilities. Assessing each team member’s hard and soft skills allows managers to assign tasks accordingly, maximizing results.

When you’re in charge of a team, effective skills management can speed up processes and ensure each employee’s talent is utilized to the maximum, which is crucial in keeping people productive and challenged in a way that motivates them.

22. Teamwork

Whereas collaboration refers to different individuals working on a single task together, teamwork refers to different members of a team carrying out different duties that will eventually come together to produce a result. As such, project managers can benefit from developing strong teamwork skills.

Once more, this group of transferable skills is directly impacted by a person’s interpersonal ability, which only further highlights just how adept PMs need to be at forming and maintaining bonds with others.

23. Delegation

Delegation entails knowing each team member’s strengths, capacity and availability, and assigning tasks to each employee accordingly. Selecting the right individual for every task can help preserve productivity, ensuring time and resources aren’t wasted.

24. Reporting

Reporting is another vital skill for PMs to have. Without accurate reports, there can be no thorough understanding of what’s working and what isn’t — and without that information, completing a project on time and while staying within the determined budget becomes difficult.

25. Patience

Working as a project manager can be extremely stressful at times. Besides having to juggle many different tasks at once, you also often have to deal with unrealistic client demands, conflict between team members, and unanticipated expenses and delays.

To survive, a key soft skill you must develop is patience. When you can respond rather than react, show understanding when mistakes are made, and accept that mishaps are inevitable, you protect your own wellbeing and productivity as well as your team’s.

Final thoughts

Project management is a demanding line of work that requires its fair share of multitasking, from conducting research to preparing reports to resolving interpersonal conflicts.

As new technologies emerge, and as we collectively reconsider our approach to doing business, it’s not enough to merely master a handful of skills; workers, especially those in managerial roles, need to invest in lifelong learning, constantly updating and expanding their know-how.

Can you think of any more skills that are needed to succeed as a project manager? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below!

This article is a complete update of an earlier version originally published on February 13, 2018.