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4 Leadership Tips You Need to be Project Manager

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Project management requires more than superior organizational skills; it requires the ability to lead as well. Much of a project’s success is based on the ability of the project manager to coordinate the efforts of many individuals, at times spread across a variety of disciplines. Additionally, they must also be capable of carrying the vast majority of the burden associated with the project’s completion.

Even if everyone’s leadership style is varied, there are certain fundamental qualities a strong leader possesses. And whether you have years of management experience or are spearheading your first project, everyone can use some guidance from time to time. With that in mind, here are four leadership tips you need to be successful in the position of project manager.

1. Strong Leaders Communicate Clearly and Often

Project managers encounter professionals from a range of fields and specialty areas. Additionally, they have to ensure that all of these professionals can work well together, or at least toward the same goal. And that requires effective communication skills.

Leading a project requires everyone to have a clear understanding of the overall vision, as well as a thorough knowledge of the objectives and performance expectations. And you must be able to explain these points to all parties involved.

Additionally, Being able to listen to team members to gain critical insight and having the ability to provide constructive feedback helps keep the project moving forward, and remaining on target, even when unexpected issues or delays arise.

2. The Right Attitude Goes a Long Way

Part of a project manager’s job is to maintain an air of confidence and enthusiasm regarding the project. Keeping a positive attitude helps other members of the team maintain one themselves and can increase overall productivity. Any doubt expressed on the part of leadership will impact the performance of the team, and may actually cause a fear regarding the project’s viability to become a reality.

Additionally, leaders are able to maintain a level of calm even when things go awry. Strong leaders don’t panic when the project isn’t going to plan, and they are able to convey a sense of cool collectedness to the other team members to help get things back on track.

3. You Can’t Do it All

At times, almost every leader is hesitant to delegate; instead, they try to manage every task within their purview on their own. However, a project’s success is often contingent on the collective skills of the members of the team and failing to delegate leaves some of that potential untapped.

It is important to assess the skills of the team and to give them the opportunity to work based on their strengths. Not only will this help keep the project moving forward in a timely fashion, but it will also lower the level of stress the project manager must take on personally.

4. You Must Be Decisive

Decision-making is a requirement in project management, and when a critical decision must be made, it is important to be decisive. Delaying a decision can have a negative impact on the project, and hedging means that team members might not have a clear idea regarding how they should proceed. When it comes time to pick a direction, manage your research quickly. Then, once a choice is made, make sure everyone involved knows the result.

Are you looking for a new job?

Successful project managers rely on their leadership skills as much as their technical ones and having the proper combination will help drive you toward success. If you are interested in becoming a project manager or are looking for your next opportunity in the field, Resolution Technologies can help you explore any opportunities that may be available to you. Contact us to discuss project management opening in your area.

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You NEED These Skills for Your Next IT Placement

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IT is an ever-changing world; those with the most in-demand skills will find themselves in an excellent position in the current job market. But understanding which skills will be given the most priority can seem like a difficult task. To help you ensure you have the right credentials for your next IT placement, consider concentrating on the following areas.

Big Data

Big data analysis provides information that can allow the company to make better business decisions as well as implementing more effective marketing strategies. As the volume of data available continues to grow, organizations want to be able to use these pieces of information to their advantage. Whether you are dealing with semi-structured or unstructured data, being able to collect, work with, and analyze this information will continue to lead to job prospects for the next few years.

These knowledge areas are often needed regardless of your business’ chosen industry, making it an ideal skill for those looking to break into the IT field.

Cloud Computing

Cloud-based computing and storage have provided organizations with a more cost-effective option for a variety of tasks that used to be managed in-house. Candidates specialized in the ability to organize and utilize these services, and work in hybrid environments that still support certain on-premises deployments will have a leg up on the competition which is only familiar with traditional networked internal options.

Mobile

Mobile technology is becoming a staple in most business environments. Whether offering simple solutions to access business email while on the go or providing full access to internal resources through a portable device, mobile technology cannot be ignored. Combine those functions with access to cloud-based resources, and it may even be difficult to continue to justify a need for the traditional desktop computer form factor.

Skills related to mobile operations are varied. You may choose to focus on app development and deployment, device management and security, as well as troubleshooting and service issues. Familiarity with multiple mobile platforms is also helpful even when an organization tends to be brand loyal.

Coding

Coding isn’t a new skill for many IT professionals. Since creating practical, custom solutions for internal or external use is still a standard requirement in strong IT departments and technology-based businesses, the ability to code will continue to have a place when considering the most in-demand skills.

However, certain programming languages may offer better opportunities than others. Java is still in high demand, as well as PHP. Perl, C, Objective-C, Javascript, Ruby, Python, CSS, and R all still have a place in today’s IT work environment. Depending on your precise career goals, you can determine which options are best for you.

Project Management

While not an IT exclusive, project management skills also increase your employment opportunities. Being able to coordinate the activities of multiple groups, create and maintain project budgets, and manage the complexity of large-scale projects within an IT environment can open be a lucrative direction to explore.

If you are looking for ways to improve your odds of placement in the IT field, the professionals at Resolution Technologies are here to help. With a focus in technical staffing, they know which skills are in demand with today’s employers. Contact Resolution Technologies Today!

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