Why project plans need to have project managers

A certain task needs to have a direction.  This is also true in making project plans.  To be able to direct a project plan towards its end-goal, there must be someone who knows how to manage it.  This is the role of project managers.

Before listing down the important roles the project manager plays in project plan, what qualities must a project manager needs to have to be effective?

A project manager needs to have a sense of direction.  He should have a vision of where to go and the capability to work out that vision.  He must also be a good communicator since he deals with all the people in the team.  He must let the team understand the goals, responsibilities, and expectations of the project plan.  Good leaders work for the group.  He does not only command but he serves as the model of being a competent member of the team.  His behaviors and values are utmost important because team member look up to him.  A project manager must be enthusiastic.  His energy must exceed more that anybody in is team.  His enthusiasm serves as motivation of the team to move on and work effectively to reach a certain goal.

A project manager must have team-building and problem-solving skills. These skills are needed for the team to work collaboratively without conflicts. In project planning, ideas are shared and sometimes disagreement arises.  The project manager must be able to resolve this for a better output.  A project manager must be competent with what he does.  He should have the technical skills and the intelligence to lead the team in achieving the goal of the project. Lastly, a project manager can work coolly under pressure.  Making project plans would sometimes lead to pressure and stress.  If the project manager is calm, he can think clearly and can make decisions easily without hurting the feeling of his colleagues.

Great qualities also require greater responsibilities.  A project manager is the overall in charge in the accomplishment of the project plan.  Because of this, he has these specific roles to play:

1. He must meet the task needs in the project plan such as attaining the objectives, planning the work, allocating resources, defining tasks, monitoring work progress, and checking performance.

2. He must meet his team needs such as appointing sub leaders, building team unity, setting standards, maintaining team supervision, developing work methods.

3.  He must  meet individual needs such as  balancing the team needs and task needs, appreciating individual accomplishment, developing the individual performance,  and helping team members solve problems.

To sum up everything, project manager is needed in every project plan because he has an important role to play right from the very start of the project until the end.  A project manager must be able to lead the project towards a productive end.  He must be committed, flexible, dependable, and experienced.  Being a project manager is such a challenging role but if the project manager knows what his roles should be, he can deliver the project plan according to the desire of the users and customers.