Importance of Soft Skills in project management
Soft skills are personal attributes that have the power to influence your members, improve your interactions with them, and create trust among the team. Organizations are increasingly prioritizing soft skills as it gives a significant understanding to deal with the project leaders and members. A 2017 study conducted by the Pulse of the Profession, revealed that possessing hard skills alone is no longer sufficient in today’s increasingly competitive job market. Soft skills can help the project managers to improve the productivity of their team members, help to accomplish the project in a given time, and increase engagement of the project.
The research found that one soft skills training program resulted in a 256% ROI as a result of boosts in productivity and retention. These skills play a predominant role in building understanding, dependability, and compatibility between teammates. According to LinkedIn 2019 Talent Trends, 92% of respondents say soft skills are more important than technical skills.
“Effective leadership is not about making speeches or being liked; leadership is defined by results, not attributes.”
According to info pro learning, Only 18% of organizations say their leaders are “very effective” at meeting business goals. An effective leader is first the problem solver. Many in the organization can play blame-shame games with each other but a leader is the one who takes complete responsibility for the indifference, mismanagement, and dissatisfying work of its employees which results in boosting them to perform better.
83% of organizations say it is important to develop leaders at all levels. An effective leader will aim to execute the organization’s vision. Effective leadership is about setting a positive environment for employees to achieve the organization’s objective.
- Share their vision:
An effective leader will have a vision. Sharing the vision is important as it gives direction to your team, a clear understanding of the company’s goals, and an overview of the process to achieve the goals.
“Effective communication is 20% what you know and 80% how you feel about what you know.”
Effective communication is the key to successful leadership. 89% of people believe that effective communication is extremely important in the organization. Effective Communication helps leaders to stimulate good working relationships, inspire them which will improve their morale and make them more productive. Leaders who know to communicate effectively will lead a result-oriented team. According to research, 72% of employees don’t have a full understanding of the company’s strategy, and 74% of employees have the feeling they are missing out on company news. Through effective communication, a leader can achieve all their given targets, prepare employees for any tough situations, and motivate them to perform better.
“The art of effective listening is essential to clear communication, and clear communication is necessary for management success.”
Every employee wants to be recognized and heard. An effective leader is also an active listener. One constructive practice among all well-known leaders is to embark on listening, noticing, and learning exercises. A successful leader will always listen to its members and invest time in listening to different ideas. Active listening builds trust among leaders and it’s members. Listening can be in different forms, to maintain a successful working team, a leader should listen to understand and not listen to reply or give impulsive reactions.
According to a survey, 79% of employees will quit their jobs due to a lack of appreciation from leaders. Effective leadership skills can revolutionize the organization’s structure and achievements.
Leaders play an important role and are considered as the organization’s backbone. Behind every successful leader, it’s their great team. Leaders are a guiding light, a ray of hope, and a foundation of an organization’s success.
