A discussion panel of executive sponsors from within several Fortune-500 companies recently shared the following characteristics of what they believed differentiate the great project managers from the rest. They described the top project managers as strong leaders of people with the ability to predict the future, plenty of thick skin, and a passion for learning. 

It sounds almost over the top, doesn't it?  I'm picturing a superhero with an invincible outer shell, an oversized brain with a sponge-like gadget to soak up new stuff, a super power that allows the future to be clearly visible, and the voice of a pied piper that others follow blindly.  But that's not what they meant, is it?

Strong Leaders of People...I love that these executives understood that the greatest success comes not from managing projects but from leading people.  The work simply doesn't get done without the people.  The ability to inspire others to do their best, to motivate individuals to work towards a common goal, to help people navigate through change and transition, to help teams feel connected and focused even amid uncertainty, and to renew enthusiasm when times are tough...these are actions of a strong leader of people. 

Able to Predict the Future...this isn't as hard as it might seem.  By applying solid risk management strategies; by anticipating obstacles and identifying action plans to overcome them; by looking for and learning from patterns, trends, and common themes in the challenges we all face over time and across industries; by continually improving our ability to estimate effort and duration; by routinely expanding our issue resolution techniques so when issues do emerge, we can resolve them faster and more efficiently; by studying and understanding the current and emerging tools and concepts within the industry as well as within the field of project management...by leveraging these tools, we can predict the future more fully and more easily than those around us.  

Thick-Skinned...being a project manager has its fair share of emotional trials.  We're expected to hold our own in tough conversations with our teams, our sponsors, and our critics; to play the role of task master when needed; to deliver good news and bad news effectively; to say no when we need to, despite all the pressures to say yes; to graciously accept input from well-intentioned onlookers who have better ideas about how to do our jobs.  When things are going well, the project manager rarely gets the credit; when things are going badly, we usually take the blame.  We don't get to tell people what they want to hear; rather we are accountable for telling them what they must hear; and when they react, we're often the first available target.  A healthy supply of thick skin makes it easier to keep moving forward in these tough situations. 

Passion for Learning...the most successful project managers I know are able to learn...from their mistakes.  Yes, they're good at coming up to speed quickly on a new project or in a new industry.  Yes, they're good at thoroughly understanding the business itself as well as the business benefits of the project at hand.  Yes, they're also good at getting to know people and the details of the work - and they seem to like to acquire new knowledge.  But the very best are also willing to admit mistakes so they can move right on to learning from them.  They're willing and eager to adapt and improve, right now, from the situation at hand.  I heard someone once say we need to "fail faster," and this resonates pretty well with me.  The sooner I'm willing to acknowledge that something's not working, the sooner I can apply the learning to make things better. 

To be great project managers, I don't believe we really need to be superheroes, but that doesn't mean we don't have our work cut out for us!  If leadership, foresight, thick skin, and an appetite for learning are valued by our sponsors, consider how your answers to the following questions can help you reach the next level of greatness.

• How strong are your people skills? Your leadership skills?  What are you doing today to improve your ability to motivate and inspire others?
• How confident are you about your ability to predict the future?  Are you reasonably anticipating the challenges your project will face?  Are you taking action to mitigate or avoid those challenges?
• How thick is your skin?  What types of things get you down or affect you personally, and how do you work through them?  What can you do today to toughen up your skin?
• How is your passion for learning?  Does it extend to learning from your own mistakes?  Are you passionate about failing faster to succeed sooner?  What can you learn - right now - from something in your work that is not going well?

What tactical steps are you taking today to help you grow?