CHAPTER 2
Project Manager: Leader, Manager, Facilitator, Mentor

Project managers, like many other leaders, are often promoted into leadership roles for reasons related to technical competency rather than because they have demonstrated leadership and management skills.

Ideally, project managers gradually acquire essential leadership skills during their early years of project work. They may also develop and sharpen their leadership skills by working with seasoned mentors or by attending formal project leadership training offered by professional organizations and institutes.

Regardless of the developmental method, the project manager must acquire a solid knowledge of basic leadership and management skills. These skills in leading team members are crucial because, ultimately, the success or failure of all projects is founded on the “people” component.

In many ways, a project manager faces greater leadership challenges than a functional manager does. In essence, the project manager must be able to implement four distinct roles or leadership functions over the life of a project—and must master the people skills that are needed to fulfill these leadership functions.