Business communication skills project

Project managers abound, but highly effective project leaders are much harder to find. The latter are shaped not only by their technical knowledge and capabilities, but by how effectively they communicate with others at all levels.

Great project leaders are objective, trustworthy, focused and confident. They lead by example, foster an energetic environment and are expert in managing the expectations of key stakeholders. Here’s a deeper look at these characteristics and more — plus the role communication plays in project leaders’ success.

Trustworthiness: Most people want to work and do business with leaders they trust. Trust is one of the most important qualities we look for in a leader. If people are unsure whether they can trust someone, they are less likely to want to embrace the leader’s vision and direction.

Transparency: This goes hand-in-hand with trust. Strong leaders choose to be transparent in their communications. They want their team to trust not only what they say, but what they mean. There are no hidden agendas or reading between the lines. Transparency tells people a lot about your intentions. And unless the information is intended to be confidential, transparency is more likely to help than hurt.

Focus and stability: In order to effectively lead, it’s imperative to focus on key aspects of a project and remain calm under pressure. Not all projects go as planned. In fact, most do not. But it’s during these times that project teams look to their leaders to be rational and practice sound judgment. Teams rely on you for the stability and levelheaded thinking that shows clear focus and agility.

Objectivity and fairness: Complex projects pose more risks to team dynamics, for example when individual stakeholders or department objectives clash. Strong leaders are inclusive in their communications and seek to constructively overcome these differences. Effective project leaders actively listen to more than one side without bias and work with key stakeholders to prioritize ideas and find the right solutions that best support the overall strategic goals.