PMI’s Talent Triangle highlights the characteristics of a great project manager. The ideal project manager combines technical project management skills with leadership and strategic and/or business management.
You may be wrong if you think technical skills are all you need to be a project manager.
Companies are looking for project managers who can execute and strategize in today’s job market. Most project managers are focused on short-term execution. If you are a good project manager, you can help your company set long-term goals.
Let’s take a look each of these components of the PMI Talent Triangle to see what they mean.
Technical Project Management
Technical project management is your ability to use the PMBOK(r)’s 10 Knowledge Areas as well as the 5 Process Groups. It is important to know what they are and when you can use them in your project.
Here are 6 quick ways to remember the 10 knowledge areas in case you are taking the PMP(r).
Your tasks in technical project management include tracking the resources allocated to the project and allocating them appropriately to achieve the project’s objectives.
It is not a good idea to rely on technical project management. This type of management is sometimes unflatteringly called “management by spreadsheet”.
Strategic and Business Management
This section explains how your project fits into the larger strategic goals of your company. You may misunderstand the scope and mislead your team if you don’t have a clear understanding.
If you don’t have a clear understanding of how your project fits within the organizational strategic goals, projects are more likely to fail.
A project manager who has a strong strategic vision and can bring new ideas to the organization is a great choice. Because you add to the bottom line of the organization, you will get paid more.
Many organizations include project managers in their strategic meetings. They also ask for their feedback.
If the feedback of the project manager is taken into account, he/she will be more motivated and able to bring the vision to fruition.
Leadership
The success of a project depends on the people involved. This section explains that project managers must understand that different team members have different personalities. Your assessments will be used to motivate your team towards achieving the project’s goals.
You are a strong leader and can know when to reward and punish appropriately. You have a high IQ and a high EQ.
Being a project manager is not only about technical skills. But, being a good project manager will give you an edge on the job market by having strategic vision and leadership skills.
Organizations are beginning to realize that technical management alone does not motivate or excite teams, which increases the risk for project failure.
The project manager is the first point of contact for the team. The team will probably not know if you don’t know how the project fits into the company’s strategy.
If the team doesn’t understand the goals they are working towards, they won’t be as motivated to give 100% to the project.
Many organizations currently have two groups: one for strategy and one for implementation. Sometimes there are miscommunications between these two groups.
Organizations are asking project managers for feedback and not pushing their ideas, in order to reduce the risk of miscommunication.
Project managers who can be both a strategist and a tactician are in increasing demand.
If you are a project manager with a strategic vision and can manage projects effectively, you will get paid more. If you have all the skills required to be a Talent Triangle manager, you will be paid more.