Qualities of a Great Program Manager
- 1. Qualities of a Great Program Manager By: Romains Bos
- 2. 5 Key Personality Traits of Great Program Managers Program Managers (PM’s) are the leaders of their companies and departments. When it comes down to it, they are the ones who are ultimately responsible for whether or not a company is profiting and functioning efficiently. Not everyone is fit for the job. In order to be a good PM, you need to have these five key personality traits: • Leadership • Great Planner • Common Sense • Effective Communicator • Cool Under Pressure
- 3. Leadership • It is hard to summarize all the skills that make up a good leader but these people are immediately recognizable • They are the ones that exude confidence in all of their actions. When these leaders speak, they demand authority and respect. However, a leader never forgets about the team he or she is running and makes sure to offer encouragement and support where needed • A good leader will also never be afraid to admit when he/she has made a mistake
- 4. Great Planner • Part of being an PM involves organizing many parts of a project into one functioning whole. In order to do this, the PM must be able to break down the parts and put them into a plan • However, it isn’t enough for the PM to make a plan. He or she also must make sure that the plan is put into effect, forecast problems, and find workable solutions along the way • This requires an analytical mind and a great eye for details as well as the ability to predict future outcomes
- 5. Common Sense • PM’s are often valued for their creativity in coming up with new ideas and problem solving. However, this creativity always lies on a basis of common sense • The PM will be able to look at all aspects of the company with objection and calculate whether plans are actually feasible or not • Anyone with experience in the field will agree that it isn’t enough to have knowledge; one must also have the basic sense to put that knowledge into practice
- 6. Effective Communicator • Many people think that managers are completely Type-A personalities with analytical mindsets. However, PM’s also need the Type-B traits that help them work well with people, especially in regards to communication • The job of an PM involves translating complicated ideas and instructions to teams of people, investors, and other department heads. Since the PM may interact with a wide variety of people from different backgrounds, this can be a very daunting task! • While looking at the technical aspects of a job, the PM will never forget about the human element and forget that people are the backbone of a company
- 7. Cool Under Pressure • The job of an PM can be incredibly stressful. Not only is the success of the company or department his/her responsibility, PM’s usually work long hours and weekends • They need to be able to remain calm no matter what problems occur. In the event of a problem, the PM needs to have the cool mindset to quickly troubleshoot the problem
- 8. Program Manager Attributes A PM runs the day-to-day operations of an organization or business. His or her sole purpose is to find ways to make the company more productive by providing effective methods in its business operations. An individual in this position usually prepares program budgets, facilitates several programs around the company, controls inventory, handles logistics and interviews and supervises employees: Work Environment • One of the duties a PM has to perform is to provide a work environment that engenders positive energy, creativity and teamwork among employees. To ensure that this goal is achieved, PM’s try to reach compromises with employees by conducting meetings, listening to each department's issues and concerns, and setting a professional example by showing leadership qualities Institute Rules • In order for a department to run smoothly, a PM has to set rules and procedures for employees to follow. This includes setting policies in the workplace to ensure effective implementation and adherence among each and every employee in the organization Manages Budget • A PM usually handles a company’s operating budget to determine how much the company has spent and what it can purchase in the near future. Being a PM is all about serving customers; therefore the individual needs to know how much money is in a company's budget to provide the products and services that will retain customers
- 9. Program Manager Attributes – Cont’d Representative • PM’s are also representatives at committee meetings and functions. The manager will be a spokesperson for the company and discuss the various objectives and plans the organization has in store to make its business more successful Decision-Maker • Handling issues is also a top priority among PM’s. Many issues that PM’s have to face include risk management, shipment delays, clients’ dissatisfaction and employee problems. This is when leadership skills come into play, as PM’s have to make effective decisions that will not only help the company run smoothly but that also serve to prevent difficult situations in the future Recruiter / Supervisor • Operation managers are also responsible for hiring employees inside an organization, as well as supervising and evaluating employees and their job performance. In addition to being a recruiter, PM’s give directions to employees on certain job tasks, resolve problems concerning employees’ work performance, establish rules and procedures and create work schedules
- 10. Foundations of Project Success Scope and Requirements Schedule Project Success Quality Cost Integrity and Safety