A project manager’s job simply can’t be put into words. There is a lot of ambiguity and too many things happening at the same time. But the ambiguity is not just there in one’s workplace, each company defines the role of a PM in their own way — so what the job entails at each company might be quite different and that can be a little scary.
Qualities to have:
- Soft skills – EQ (Emotional Quotient) might just be more important than IQ (Intelligence Quotient) here.
- Ability to multitask and not get overwhelmed easily.
- Be a good leader – you have a lot of responsibility and have to work and motivate multiple groups of individuals.
- Be a self-starter – most of the time there wouldn’t be a clear description of what you need to do.
- Prioritisation – with so much work thrown at you, you need to know what to focus on to deliver results.
- Setting Boundaries – I strongly believe that work cannot take over your life and that, to be good at work, you need to be happy with yourself and have time to grow as a person while also enjoying life.
- Don’t get insecure – this can be your biggest downfall and can also burn you out really fast. Having faith in oneself is never overrated 🙂
If you need external motivation and a push to get tasks done, this might not be the job for you.
Nothing can fully prepare you for your work as a PM, so don’t worry too much and enjoy the ride!
