Many organizations have Project Managers as the project delivery team leaders. Project managers are usually part of a Project Management Office if the organization is large or medium in size. There are both good and bad project managers. The role of a Project Manager Officer (or PMO manager) is to facilitate good project management and ensure that good project managers are rising within a PMO. How can we distinguish between good and bad project managers?
Good Project Managers vs. Bad Project Managers
Good project managers lead, but bad PMs manage
Good PMs are proactive; bad PMs react.
Good PMs are analytical. Bad PMs make decisions based on rumors.
Good PMs are accountable, while bad PMs blame others or the team.
Good PMs are accountable, while bad PMs blame others or the team.
In this post, we will discuss the characteristics of good and bad project managers.
Good Project Managers vs. Bad Project Managers
You should have had multiple PMs in your professional career. Some PMs had bad reputations, while others had memorable experiences. In this post, we will discuss the differences between good and bad project managers. You can see the signs of poor project administration.
1- Good PMs lead, poor PMs manage
Good project managers are leaders. They mentor and lead the team. Bad PMs manage tasks and direct people, but they don’t show leadership. Although this may not seem like a big difference, it is significant.
Bad PMs
Bad PMs can make it harder for the team to express their creativity when they manage the team. The PMs have the decision-making power, so the team can’t grow beyond a certain point. The PM’s pressure to meet targets can often cause unnecessary fatigue for the team. Bad project managers delegate less work to their team. They distrust their team less and want to micromanage them occasionally. They don’t ask their team for ideas or inputs and they don’t communicate enough with them. There is little information shared between them and their team. These are just a few of the many problems you will face when working for a bad PM.
Good PMs
If you are fortunate enough to have a good PM, they will be leading you through an open-concept workplace. You will feel empowered to take on new tasks, develop new ideas, and make decisions knowing that you won’t be criticized but instead guided. You won’t feel like someone is watching you constantly. Good PMs will show you how to do the things you need and support you when you need them. They will guide you from the front, even when it’s a battle against a mountain. They will see your success as their success.
If you compare good and bad project managers, you will see that the PM who leads the team through the project is more successful and is more popular. The project teams are less likely to accept bad PMs in today’s multi-cultural and complex project environments. They are perceived as a negative influence on their productivity and cause friction.
2- Good PMs are proactive; bad PMs react
Good PMs are proactive in monitoring the project and assessing the outside effects. They are proactive in identifying potential problems before they occur. Bad PMs, on the other hand are reactive. They don’t take action until a risk is present or its effects become obvious. This is clearly not the right approach, as it could cause serious damage to the project and business.
Good PMs
Good PMs are proactive leaders who are able to see the future and make decisions with their critical eye. It is important to be proactive, especially if you work in a complex or uncertain environment. You may be wondering why it is so important. It is important because there are always changing business requirements and customer needs.