What on earth are power skills in the context of project management?
Well, they used to be called soft skills, but they are finally being recognized as the powerhouses that they are. Project management training often focuses on the techniques and tools to manage projects. However, the human element separates good project managers from great project managers. This is where power skills come in.
According to the Project Management Institute (PMI), “Power skills are the behaviors that enable people to succeed.” The good news is that you will already have honed most of these during your military career. In this two-part series, we will break down each power skill and bring it to life so you can see the value of military transferable skills.
Communication
This is considered the most essential power skill by project management professionals across the global industry. Effectively delivering and receiving different types of information in various formats and situations is important in a project environment. In addition, managing those involved, as well as interested parties (stakeholders), and their expectations is critical to a project and can be a key driver of success (or failure). You’ve probably had to deliver information before and tested how the message would be received, so you already know how to do this.
Problem Solving and Conflict Management
This is a core skill required for effective project management. Not because all projects have problems, but because all projects are responding to a challenge or opportunity that has been identified. Inherently, projects bring change, ambiguity, complexity, and sometimes resistance. As project managers, taking a step back and making an informed decision on the next steps is essential. In many situations where you’ve previously found yourself, there have been instances where you’ve had to hone your critical thinking skills to navigate a tricky situation.
Strategic Thinking
This allows individuals to navigate the political landscape of an organization while focusing on the broader picture. This is particularly important for project management professionals because we’re expected to become emotionally attached to a project. This can introduce risk to the project because we don’t see anything coming that might affect the goal until it’s too late. Without a doubt, there have been instances where you have had to consider a broader perspective and adjust accordingly in your military role.
Adaptability
This helps organizations avoid blindly following processes and provides scope for using the power skills we’ve already described. We call this ‘Best Fit Practice’ in the project management industry—taking the tried-and-tested processes and making them fit the reality of the situation. If you are nothing else, you are adaptable.
Discipline and Decision Making
These are the foundations of project management. Fundamentally, project management is wrapping structure around a potentially volatile process, allowing for informed decisions. Organizations would be in chaos without the ability to instill discipline, consistency, and efficiency. Your basic training alone has provided you with the skills required to excel at these aspects of project management.
Trust Building, Leadership, and Motivation
These are some of the most valuable skills required for project management. Keeping the team motivated and on a mission will enable projects to deliver sustainable change to organizations and communities. Without the people, the processes don’t work, so the role of a project manager is to show empathy with their team members, accept that they do not all have the same experience, and motivate them to keep going together.
In Conclusion
When considering if your military transferable skills are right for project management, the conclusion is that the core skills required for project management are likely already well-developed. The trick is taking these skills and making them work in the corporate environment to give you the best chance of success. And this is where Wellingtone comes in. We provide much more than a bunch of courses. We offer a safe community for you to learn, share, grow, and succeed in the project management industry.
Talk to Wellingtone about your resettlement journey
Whether you’re seeking training opportunities, guidance on promoting your military transferable skills, or a supportive community, we’re here to help. Contact us to discuss your resettlement options now.
