skills”) are knowledge and skills related to the mechanics of
project management. You should be extremely knowledgeable
about project management tools, techniques, and process tech-
nology and be able to apply them. For example, you should be
know how to prepare a comprehensive customer requirements
document, construct a network diagram, and construct a work
breakdown structure. Without these skills, you’ll find it very dif-
ficult to coordinate and facilitate the creation of a high-quality
project plan and to maintain control during project execution.
Also, since these skills are a basic expectation, you can expect
to encounter problems of respect from your team members if
you’re deficient in this area. As mentioned earlier, this skill set is
the main focus of this book.
Interpersonal and Behavioral Skills
Since managing projects is all about getting things done
through other people, your skills in dealing with people are of
immeasurable value. Closely tied to your interpersonal skills are
your behavioral skills: your personal conduct, style, and
approach. Together, these two skill sets are often called the
“soft skills.” Here are some examples of soft skills:
- team and individual leadership
- oral and written communication
- conflict resolution
- negotiation
- influencing
- delegating
- coaching and mentoring
For individuals coming to project management from a high-
ly technical background, soft skill development can be particu-
larly challenging. Later in this chapter we’ll discuss methods for
developing these skills.
Technology Management Skills
Most projects have one or more embedded technologies. An
embedded technology refers to the process or technology areas
at the core of the project. Examples might include software
The Role of the Project Manager 37