When running an organisation, tasks tend to be broken into different projects in order for the work to be done efficiently. This often calls for specific personnel, project managers in this case, who get to be in charge of organising and overseeing all aspects of any project’s completion. Tasks can include managing team members, setting goals and motivating employees towards achieving them. Project managers are however expected to possess certain skills for them to be able to execute their duties to the fullest. When you are in the position of project manager, Alphonse Uworwabayeho, a lecturer of mathematics at University of Rwanda’s College of Education says that your major roles are to initiate, plan, monitoring as well as completing projects. Some of the main key skills for a project manager include; being organised, knowledgeable, and able to multitask. In addition to this, one must be able to communicate effectively as well as have strong leadership skills among others. Uworwabayeho says communication is one of the main important skills to possess as a project manager. “As a project manager, communication is very vital as it will allow you to communicate effectively. In this position, communication will also allow others and yourself to understand information more accurately and quickly, which is important as far as managing a project is concerned,” he says. The lecturer notes that to able to convey clear information to the entire team, communication is key especially when it comes to effectively sharing the vision, goals, ideas, and other work-related issues. He adds that it’s good to understand that when one has poor communication skills, there are high possibilities of frequent misunderstanding and frustration among the team and the entire organisation in general. Dr Andrew E Ivang from the Department of Clinical Biology-Huye Campus, University of Rwanda, says another must-skill for a project manager is to understand how to lead others. This particular skill, he says helps when it comes to motivating and inspiring those that you lead. Also, with this skill, one is assured of their team and organisation to grow and develop. He explains that this skill is also essential in management as it allows leaders and supervisors to oversee and coordinate tasks as well as motivate and encourage the team in all areas. On the other hand, Ivang says for the success of any business, a project manager possessing leadership skills helps to provide vision for the company-one is able to state the vision and what the team must do to achieve it. “With leadership skills, one is able to harnesses individual efforts towards achieving one goal as an organisation. Leadership skills also help a project manager motivate teams towards a common goal,” he says. Aminadhad Niyonshuti, an educator says there is also need for project managers to possess organisational skills. This skill, he says is vital especially when it comes to ensuring all the development in the organisation is running in order. When you are able to organise your work and the team you are leading in an organised manner, he says one is able to multitask as well as be in position to prioritise tasks accordingly. Besides, he says with this skill, a project manager eliminates unnecessary ineffectiveness and instead helps others to perform their duties with ease. Another vital skill for project management personnel, Uworwabayeho says is having the ability to manage others. Bringing a team together and moving them in one direction is essential and without having team management skills, this can hardly happen, he says. Team management skills include the ability to effectively delegate responsibilities, handle conflicts, evaluate performances, and coach team members to help them improve their skills. He also adds that it is essential to manage time as a project manager, explaining that every work has its own deadline, including projects. Therefore, being able to manage your time well will save one from last time rush, which time leads to producing work which is not of quality. “As a project manager, there is need to create a project timeline and maintain those deadlines throughout the project so that you achieve whatever goals and expectations you have set by the end of that particular project,” he says.
