What Makes a Great Project Manager? Insights from Exadel PMs

Exadel Recruitment Team Exadel People November 26, 2024 7 min read

On November 7, we celebrate International Project Manager Day. Let’s use this occasion to learn more about what it means to work as a Project Manager and what skills are necessary to succeed in this position.

Discover more information and valuable tips from project managers working at Exadel!

Project Manager Career

In the dynamic world of IT, a project manager (PM) is more than a coordinator—they’re the driving force behind successful project execution. At Exadel, PMs are pivotal in aligning technical capabilities with client needs.

A Project Manager in the IT field coordinates tasks, resources, and stakeholders to ensure the successful delivery of projects. Responsibilities include defining project goals, creating detailed plans, managing budgets and timelines, and addressing obstacles during execution. In short, PMs bridge technical teams and clients, ensuring both are aligned on their objectives and expectations.

Being attentive and consistent in observing details and seeing the bigger picture of project delivery can help PMs. Plus, never underestimate ideas that people in the team can bring; be open and transparent.

Mohammad Salek

Senior Delivery Manager, Exadel Poland

Soft Skills

The most critical are soft skills, which include communication abilities, as they frequently relay complex information between diverse audiences; leadership and decision-making skills, to guide teams effectively; problem-solving; and adaptability, to tackle upcoming challenges efficiently.

Tips from our HR’s

Try to imagine real cases in which soft skills can be helpful. For example:

  • Effective communication and active listening will help you gather information from the teams, facilitate their discussions, and find the best common ground for all stakeholders.
  • Adaptability and creative thinking will help find solutions for unforeseen challenges in the project.
  • Empathy and emotional intelligence are necessary for any good project. They will help create a healthy team dynamic and a positive work environment.

A great PM turns chaos into order, keeps everyone on track, and handles last-minute issues patiently. They balance deadlines, handle fuzzy requests, and keep everyone happy—all with nervous laughter, optimism, and a little magic.

Natalia Kulik

Lead Delivery Manager, Exadel Poland

Technical Skills

Technical proficiency is a must for project managers working in the IT field. These skills will enable the PM to manage complex projects and communicate effectively with technical teams.

One fundamental requirement is familiarity with project management methodologies such as Agile, Scrum, Kanban and project tracking tools like Jira, Trello, or Asana. Since one of the PM’s leading roles is bridging the gap between stakeholders and technical experts, understanding software development processes and IT infrastructure is valuable.

A good PM uses common sense, discipline, and intention to ensure that the system’s parts interact efficiently to achieve the goals and maintain alignment with the overall vision. And… of course, a great PM wouldn’t be complete without constantly asking: So, when will it be completed?

Artem Markov

Senior Delivery Manager, Exadel Ukraine

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