I was talking with a client recently who is searching for some project management talent to join their staff. He was considering whether they needed more tactical project managers (people who roll up their sleeves and can get the work done, those who work on the details) or more strategic thinkers (people who can see the big picture, those who can look ahead). My client was trying to determine the mix of tactical vs. strategic talent in his group, assuming you can’t have both in one person. Not so fast!
You need both in your project managers and you certainly can have both. The best project managers I have seen are able to be both tactical and strategic. To grow in the project management role and move into a leadership position, you certainly need both skills. Certainly as you move up the ladder, you may rely more on strategic skills than tactical ones, but only one won’t get you where you want to ultimately go.
A project manager with strategic skills is able to align the work she is doing with the organization vision and long-term goals. She knows where that project fits into the strategy of the organization and can share that information with her team in a way that engages them and drives them to succeed. They feel a part of a bigger whole. On the tactical side, she can roll up her sleeves with the rest of the team to accomplish goals. She knows what is takes to reach the end result and can talk effectively with the team on how to accomplish those goals, keeping the big picture in mind.
Having the ability to be tactical in meeting goals but also to be strategic and see and communicate the big picture is essential for long term success as a project manager – especially if you are interested in moving into a leadership role within the organization. For one of my clients, the project management competencies we developed include, certainly, the technical skills, but more so a variety of critical (soft) skills: contingency thinking, strategic planning, drive for business results, performance accountability and working across boundaries (to name just a few). Project managers are placed in situations where they have the ability to practice and hone these skills.
