In the coming weeks, we will be reviewing the 8 interpersonal skills that A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) calls out specifically, which a project manager needs to possess. We begin with leadership.

1. PMP® Exam Tip: Interpersonal Skills a PMP Needs: 1. Leadership
In the coming weeks, we will be
reviewing the 8 interpersonal skills
that A
Guide
to
the
Project
Management Body of Knowledge
(PMBOK® Guide) calls out specifically,
which a project manager needs to
possess. We begin with leadership.
Leadership is one of the important skills
that a good project manager must
possess. The reason for this is that in
many cases, the project manager
doesn’t have any authority over the team members for a project. This means he or she must
manage the project through leadership.
Although it can be more difficult to manage through leadership rather than authority, it is
usually more effective because it is built on trust and respect.
A leader is especially important at the beginning of a project to define the vision of the project
and communicate this vision to the team. This helps all of the team members to get on board
with the goals of the project. Good leadership skills will also keep the members inspired and
motivated to do their best work.
Unfortunately, leadership is difficult to teach from books (or tips like this one). You can learn
the basics from the written word, but then you need to show that you “have it” by applying it
on the job. For the PMP® exam it is important that you recognize situations that require
leadership and that you are able to select the appropriate action.
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