5 Skills You Must Have as a Medical Project Manager
Posted March 30th, 2016
Both job seekers and hiring managers place too much emphasis on technical skills. They’re important, of course, but just as important are the soft skills that allow professionals to make the most of those technical abilities in actual workplace settings. If you are pursuing work as a Medical Project Manager, you need to demonstrate you have the character traits necessary to be an effective superintendent in all scenarios. Make your case by focusing on these five must-have skills:
Communication Skills
As a project manager, most of your time is spent taking information from one group, digesting it, and delivering it to another group. For that reason, you must be a stellar communicator. This includes all types of written and verbal communications, and needs to take place in both formal and informal settings. And don’t forget to be a great listener. Information needs to flow in as well as it flows out.
Leadership Skills
Leadership gets buzzed about a lot, but what does it really mean to have leadership skills in the context of a Medical Project Manager role? In the broadest terms possible, it means you’re able to push a project forward rather than simply navigate it around setbacks and pitfalls. You have the vision to identify opportunities and are able to motivate those around you to buy in to that vision.
Team Management Skills
If we think of leadership as a macro initiative, we should think of team management as a micro initiative. You will be responsible for a number of different team members and stakeholders, each with their own strengths/weaknesses and needs/wants. Good team managers are able to manage the interpersonal relationships on teams while empowering everyone to produce their best work.
Negotiation Skills
If negotiation wasn’t necessary, there would be little need for Medical Project Managers. To a large extent, your job is to weigh and balance the demands of competing groups. If you are unable to reach compromises and leave all parties feeling satisfied, you’re not doing your job effectively.
Risk Management Skills
The best project managers don’t solve problems, they avoid them entirely. In order to do that you need to be great at risk management. This is a delicate skill, because you don’t want to be too risk averse and hold projects back. Conversely, you don’t want to be too risky and put projects in jeopardy. Understanding the factors in play and making the best decision for all involved is one of the most important skills you can bring to the table.
Do you have what it takes to excel as a Medical Project Manager? If so, employers are eager to meet you. Make the connection by working with Bayside Solutions.
