Team Leadership in Project Management

Team Leadership in Project Management



Introduction

Project management is a carefully planned and organized effort to accomplish a specific (and usually) one-time objective, for example, construct a building or apply a major new computer system. Project management includes developing a task plan, which includes defining and affirming the task goals and objectives, recognizing tasks and how goals will be achieved, quantifying the resources required, and working out budgets and timelines for completion.(Larson, 2003) It also includes managing the implementation of the task plan, along with operating regular 'controls' to ensure that there is accurate and target information on 'performance' relative to the plan, and the mechanisms to apply recovery actions where necessary. Projects usually pursue major phases or stages (with various titles for these), encompassing feasibility, delineation, task planning, implementation, evaluation and support/maintenance. (Mantel, 2003)

 

Discussion

Leaders stand out in a gathering, rise to the peak and accomplish significantly more than their peers. Some of the characteristics that make leaders distinct are vision, goals, clear purpose, self-discipline ability to communicate persistence and a positive attitude. Leaders have a clear image of what they see their assembly evolving or managing in the future. There is a distinction between eyesight and vision. Vision is the ability to get meaning from eyesight. Effective leaders have vision. Leaders understand where they stand, where they are going and how they are going to get there. They realize that no one ever accomplishes anything of consequence without a goal. They also realize that in alignment to fulfill their vision, they require to set a series of goals that will assist them to manage so.(Mantel, 2003)

Effective leaders are goal-directed. Leaders understand why they exist, what they accept as factual and what their values are. Having a clear purpose gives them the power and focus they require to accomplish their goals and fulfill their vision. Effective leaders have a clear purpose. Leaders are many times needed to manage things that ordinary persons manage not like to do. The reality of the matter is, leaders probably manage not like to manage them either.(Larson, 2003) The distinction between a leader and an ordinary person is that a leader does whatever it takes to accomplish the goal, and many times this requires self-control and self-discipline. Effective leaders have self-control and self-discipline. To achieve their goals and fulfill their vision, leaders require persuading others to take action on their ideas. This requires that they believe clearly, speak clearly and listen carefully. Effective leaders have the ability to communicate.(Robbins,2001)

 

Knowledge of Different Levels

The Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) is a assemblage of processes and information areas generally accepted as best practice inside the task management discipline.As an internationally recognised standard it provides the fundamentals of task management, irrespective of the kind of task be it construction, software, technology, automotive etc. PMBOK recognizes 5 basic process groups and 9 information areas typical of almost all projects. The basic concepts are applicable to projects, programs and operations. The five basic process groups are:

Initiating

Planning

Executing

Monitoring and Controlling

Closing

Processes ...