Project Managers: Managers, Leaders, or Both?

Nikkenta Murphy

One hears the term leadership in a wide variety of industries. Leadership comes in many different sizes and shapes. Leadership is necessary for all environments, especially project management (PM). Leadership is described by the Project Management Institute (PMI) as: “an essential element of organizational project management maturity” (PMI, 2018). Key skills that leaders bring to the table are ability to motivate and inspire, build teams, negotiate, communicate effectively, actively listen, and influence (Kumar, 2009). A common fallacy among many industries is that in order to be successful in management, you must be a great leader. I have known many managers who were effective in management yet did not possess effective leadership qualities. Without great leadership qualities, project managers struggle to accomplish project goals. Project managers have limited authoritative power. So, to get work done, project managers have to motivate and influence their subordinates. It

is crucial for the team and stakeholders to trust

and respect the project manager. Through the development of strong leadership skills, project managers can influence team members to accomplish project goals. The goal is to grow and master a great management and leadership style continuously. By becoming familiar with both management and leadership qualities, it will allow the project manager to gain the trust and respect from the team members and stakeholders while consistently increasing the probability for project success.

Project managers should build a dedicated toolbox to utilize during a project. The toolbox should embody both skill sets of management and leadership. Some of the attributes indicative of leaders are thinking innovatively, seeking challenges, motivating and inspiring team members, and providing focus on the company mission and goals. Leaders often have a wide area of influence.

The skill sets of managers are administering, seeking opportunities to maintain the status quo, thinking from a short-term perspective, controlling, and providing focus on the company mission and goals. Managers tend to have little influence (Kumar, 2009).

While some of these skills appear to be negative, there are benefits from considering things in a short-term perspective. Project managers may benefit from adopting qualities from both leaders and managers. They will have the flexibility to utilize the best option in a situation and applying the

choice as applicable. It could be detrimental to the project for a project manager not to understand the basic principles of leadership. For example, I once was a part of a project team where the project manager did not include the team in the budget. Each unit proceeded with the understanding that they could meet their goals with an unlimited budget. The project costs were over budget, and the project manager brought it to the team’s attention. Had costs been discussed in

the planning phase, they would not have been over budget. Having a thorough understanding of the leadership principles, specifically effective communication will allow for a more

significant impact on the team, stakeholders, and project success.

Three people were selected from three different industries and asked a set of questions to identify the skills/characteristics of a good leader: What defines leadership? What role does leadership play in project success? Finally, what are the responsibilities of a leader in creating a service culture of excellence? The service culture of excellence allows the

project manager to focus on quality customer satisfaction and end service provided. These three questions helped define a few of the key components regarding leadership. The goal was to show how people believe leadership is important in project management regardless of the industry.

Rachael Burch, Appeals Nurse Consultant for Aetna Insurance, is a recent graduate of the BB&T Leadership Institute. She is a certified BB&T Emerging Leader. She believes a good leader embodies skills such as interpersonal communication, open-mindedness, a firm yet compassionate leadership style, and maintaining a hands-on approach. The role that leadership plays in a successful project is the project manager’s ability to lead while keeping the project organized. Leaders select the best people for the best roles to increase the chances of being a successful project. Burch says, “the willingness to serve from the bottom up is what creates a service culture of excellence. Leaders lead by example!” (R. E. Burch, personal communication, 2018).

Dana White has been in a leadership role for twenty years at Quality Labs Engineering Management for Siemens Energy. She believes leadership is defined as mentorship. Leaders should be willing to learn, great listeners, and action oriented. The role leadership plays in project success is providing execution to the project actions. The execution phase in the project life cycle can make or break project success. A team can have a good business case and the best plan for the project, yet if there is no action or execution, the project will fail. The role of a leader in creating a service culture of excellence is to promote excellent quality and

integrity. White says, “the absence of quality and integrity in providing excellent service leaves a void that cannot be filled” (D. D. White, personal communication, 2018).

Keith Burch, Project Manager at Containment Control Incorporated (CCI), has been in the environmental science industry for over thirty years. According to Burch, the key leadership skills are for leaders to be decisive while being inclusive towards the ideas of others, empathetic of each member’s situation, and communicating clear direction. The leader must have honesty, integrity, and must provide feedback (positive or negative) to the team that will promote reassurance to the members. Financial accountability also plays a critical role in project success. Having a clear and open communication plan that is effectively communicated to the team, customer, and stakeholders is the main objective. Burch gives three easy points to creating a service culture of excellence. The leader

must accept responsibility, communicate the excellence plan, and lead by example. Burch says, “always communicate the financial objectives, goals, and budgets to all that are involved” (J. K. Burch, Personal Communication, 2018).

The Project Leadership Pyramid illustrates the principles of leadership. The five categories are building the vision, nurturing collaboration, promoting performance, cultivating learning, and ensuring the results (Juli, 2011). These key principles can serve as a simple guide for the project manager to gain and maintain successful leadership skills. The PM industry organizes leadership tools in the pyramid or matrix format to teach these skill sets to

project managers.

The Project Leadership Matrix is a fourcategory cube matrix that teaches reactive and proactive skills. The proactive phases focus on the project’s strategic vision while the reactive focus on immediate issues (Madsen, 2018).

This matrix allows users to focus on people and inspiring engagement in the Reactive and Proactive: People Leadership phase. The authority-based task focus engages during the Reactive and Proactive: Task Management phase. Applying these tools to everyday

practice in a project will separate the leaders from managers.

The common belief that project managers only need good management skills is long gone. In any industry of project managers, successful projects are determined by successful leaders. Leadership development is a necessity for every project manager. The industry does not focus enough on leadership or the role leadership plays in a project’s success or failure. Often, we hear project managers complain that they have no authority and are unable to get work done. In reality, project managers that are experiencing problems with the stakeholders or team members lack

leadership skills. It is unlikely that a project manager is struggling if proper leadership practices are applied. Project managers must adopt a style that requires a unique approach using foundational leadership and good management practices based on each situation. ■

Works Cited

Burch, J.K. (2018, November 16). Personal Interview.

Burch, R.E. (2018, November 12). Personal Interview.

Juli, T. (2011). The five team leadership principles for project success. Paper presented at PMI® Global Congress 2011—North America, Dallas, TX. Newtown Square, PA:

Project Management Institute.

Kumar, V. S. (2009). Essential leadership skills for project managers. Paper presented at

PMI® Global Congress 2009—North America, Orlando, FL. Newtown Square, PA:

Project Management Institute.

Madsen, S. (2016). Project Manager. What Kind of Leader Are You? Use the Project

Leadership Matrix to Find Out. Retrieved from https://www.projectmanager.com/ training/use-the-project-leadership-matrix

Opfer, W. A. & Abrams, F. (2004). Leadership: an essential element of organizational project management maturity. Paper presented at PMI® Research Conference:

Innovations, London, England. Newtown Square, PA: Project Management Institute.

White, D.D. (2018, November 16). Personal Interview.