The role of the project manager is evolving. The old ‘command-and-control’ approach is no longer effective. When we study the most effective teams, we see highly connected individuals pursuing a shared goal. We sense a culture of safety and trust. We observe constant collaboration and a steady flow of high-impact communication. As a team leader, you can develop the leadership skills to foster that type of healthy team. Effective project leadership is a combination of multiple leadership styles. Today, we will dive deep into these team-leadership styles to help you pick your ultimate combo.

How to Lead Projects with Confidence and Innovation

Ensuring your growth as a project manager requires a working understanding of effective leadership techniques. These techniques help you achieve project success while boosting team efficiency. Here are a few effective project-management leadership styles for you to consider.

Situational Leadership

The dynamic work environment of today requires adaptability. It is among the most critical project-management skills. Situational leadership refers to context-based leadership. This style helps you adapt to the changing scenarios so you can assess situational dynamics, team dynamics, and project requirements. This careful assessment aids your team in adopting the best management practices under the given circumstances.

Transformational Leadership

An important element of PMP® (Project Management Professional) leadership is a transformational mindset. As a project head, you may inspire your team to achieve greatness with a shared vision and innovative stance. Given your position as the team leader, you likely have a unique view of the big picture – tell the team and stakeholders how the project fits into the overall strategy of the organization. Explain the “Why” for this project. A culture centered around collaboration and improvement can support you in transformational leadership. More importantly, lead by example to help your team grow.

Emotionally Intelligent Leadership

Leadership in project management requires you to be emotionally present. You must understand that your team members are humans first. You can better analyze their strengths and weaknesses by creating space for human emotions. Incorporate emotional intelligence into team leadership. This way, you can connect with your team members more effectively, as well as foster values like empathy and resilience. By modeling this behavior, you will create a culture of safety and trust for the entire team.

Visionary Leadership

Visionary leaders make history by thinking beyond others. They drive innovation in project management to achieve desired outcomes. The visionary leadership style challenges the status quo, encourages experimentation, and motivates you to embrace failure as a part of the learning process. The teams who are known for their creative solutions have a reputation for celebrating failures!  Those teams feel safe to break some eggs, try new recipes, and learn from the results. Inspire your team members to think creatively and work on bold ideas. Encouraging them to push boundaries can help them achieve extraordinary goals.

Ethical Leadership

Despite the leadership style you adopt, ethical leadership remains constant in project management. This North Star keeps you aligned with ethical practices in carrying out project tasks. Leading with integrity and ethics may sometimes put you in a difficult position. Focus on that North Star and make the right decision with confidence. You should always support your team in adopting ethical practices in making project decisions, large and small. For this, establish an accountability mechanism across the department and talk through those difficult decisions in team meetings. The team will embrace and respect this transparent approach.

Coaching Leadership

The coaching leadership style is centered around the personal and professional growth of team members. As a mentor, a project manager can guide the team to identify and achieve their developmental goals, thus enhancing overall team performance and project outcomes. Coaching leadership cultivates a learning environment where continuous improvement and adaptability are encouraged, enabling team members to excel in their roles and contribute more effectively to project success.

Agile Leadership

Whether the team is using a waterfall or agile approach to manage the project, you can apply agile practices to your leadership style.  Agile leaders focus on fostering an environment of flexibility, continuous feedback, and customer-centric development. This leadership style is particularly effective in projects requiring rapid adaptations and iterative progress, promoting a culture of innovation and resilience.

Seek Professional Project Management Training with Velociteach!

Project management is a complex domain, but you can simplify it with effective leadership. The above information highlights the most important leadership styles in project management. You may focus on each to develop your ideal leadership combination. If you need professional project management training, we can help.  Velociteach offers instructor-led Leadership training to corporate groups, and we also offer self-paced courses to help project managers enhance their leadership skills.

At Velociteach, you can register for project management courses and certification preparation. Our training programs can help you focus on leadership qualities within project management. With a curriculum designed by industry experts and a focus on real-world application, our courses ensure you’re well-equipped to lead projects with confidence and innovation.  Explore our courses today and enroll to begin your journey toward becoming a more effective and impactful leader in the field of project management.