3 Leadership Styles for Effective Project Management
Effective project management fundamentals really don’t come naturally. Project management is a specific skill—or more accurately, a specific set of skills. Along with organization, time management, budget management, risk management, technological savvy, negotiation, research and reporting skills, and problem- solving, project managers need to excel at leadership.
Project leadership requires a blend of soft skills, such as communication, active listening, and motivation, along with the bottom-line capabilities of project management. In their role as leaders, project managers must learn how to serve both the needs of the project and the needs of their team members—not an easy task.
The Dual Role of Project Managers
- Managing project objectives and timelines
- Fostering team collaboration and commitment
- Ensuring successful project completion
In today's fast-changing workplace and with the increasing rise of remote and hybrid teams, being an effective project manager requires not only an arsenal of leadership skills but also a command of different leadership styles.
Understanding Leadership Styles in Project Management
While no one is a born leader, everyone has a "natural" leadership style—a way of guiding, coaching, motivating, and inspiring people that aligns with their personality and individual strengths. However, different situations in the life of a project require different leadership styles.
From the experts at American Management Association (AMA), a world leader in professional development, here's a look at three major styles of leadership in project management, with tips on when to apply each to the challenges of managing a project and the team behind it:
1. Directive Leadership: A Hands-On Project Management Style
Sometimes, project managers need to tell their team members exactly what to do and how to do it. That's when Directive Leadership works best. This style might be viewed as a more take-charge, "I'm in control" approach.
When to use Directive Leadership:
- At the beginning of a project
- In emergency situations
- When team members report directly to the project manager
- When team members lack experience with the type of project at hand
2. Participative Leadership: Collaborative Project Management
This style, also known as Democratic Leadership, is a method of leadership that gets all the team members involved in identifying important project goals, developing strategies and procedures to achieve them, and generating enthusiasm to keep the momentum going.
When to use Participative Leadership:
- When trust is high between the project manager and the team
- When multiple perspectives on an issue are especially valuable
3. Facilitative Leadership: Empowering Project Management
- This is the least hands-on and most empowering approach to leading a project team. A Facilitative Leader steps back into a supportive role and lets team members "own" project problems by giving them the freedom and authority to find the best solutions.
When to use Facilitative Leadership:
- When team members have the knowledge and expertise to make sound decisions
- When team dynamics are strong
Developing Versatile Leadership Skills
For every project manager, developing leadership skills is essential. And in your role as a project leader, regardless of what style comes naturally, you need to stay flexible and adaptive to different needs and priorities throughout the project's lifecycle.
Keys to Effective Project Leadership
- Understand the strengths and weaknesses of each leadership style
- Assess the needs of your team and project at different stages
- Adapt your leadership approach as necessary
- Continuously develop your leadership skills
Being both the best possible leader and the right kind of leader at the right time is imperative to your team's performance and the project's outcome.
About AMA
American Management Association (AMA) is globally recognized as a leader in professional development. For nearly 100 years, it has helped millions of people bring about positive change in their performance in order to improve results. AMA’s learn-by-doing instructor-led methods, extensive content, and flexible learning formats are proven effective—and constantly evolve to meet the changing needs of individuals and organizations. To learn more, visit www.amanet.org.