The document discusses the key traits of a great program manager. It identifies five essential personality traits: leadership, strong planning abilities, common sense, effective communication skills, and the ability to remain calm under pressure. It elaborates on each trait, emphasizing the importance of leadership, analytical thinking, feasibility assessment, clear instruction, and cool-headed decision making. The document also outlines the responsibilities of a program manager, such as providing a positive work environment, setting workplace rules and procedures, managing budgets, representing the company, making difficult decisions, hiring and supervising employees, and ensuring project scope, schedule, quality, cost, and integrity standards are met.

1. Qualities of a Great
Program Manager
By: Romains Bos

2. 5 Key Personality Traits of
Great Program Managers
Program Managers (PM’s) are the leaders of their companies and departments. When it
comes down to it, they are the ones who are ultimately responsible for whether or not a
company is profiting and functioning efficiently. Not everyone is fit for the job. In order to be a
good PM, you need to have these five key personality traits:
• Leadership
• Great Planner
• Common Sense
• Effective Communicator
• Cool Under Pressure

3. Leadership
• It is hard to summarize all the skills that make up a good leader but these people are
immediately recognizable
• They are the ones that exude confidence in all of their actions. When these leaders speak,
they demand authority and respect. However, a leader never forgets about the team he or
she is running and makes sure to offer encouragement and support where needed
• A good leader will also never be afraid to admit when he/she has made a mistake

4. Great Planner
• Part of being an PM involves organizing many parts of a project into one functioning whole.
In order to do this, the PM must be able to break down the parts and put them into a plan
• However, it isn’t enough for the PM to make a plan. He or she also must make sure that
the plan is put into effect, forecast problems, and find workable solutions along the way
• This requires an analytical mind and a great eye for details as well as the ability to predict
future outcomes

5. Common Sense
• PM’s are often valued for their creativity in coming up with new ideas and problem solving.
However, this creativity always lies on a basis of common sense
• The PM will be able to look at all aspects of the company with objection and calculate
whether plans are actually feasible or not
• Anyone with experience in the field will agree that it isn’t enough to have knowledge; one
must also have the basic sense to put that knowledge into practice

6. Effective Communicator
• Many people think that managers are completely Type-A personalities with analytical
mindsets. However, PM’s also need the Type-B traits that help them work well with people,
especially in regards to communication
• The job of an PM involves translating complicated ideas and instructions to teams of
people, investors, and other department heads. Since the PM may interact with a wide
variety of people from different backgrounds, this can be a very daunting task!
• While looking at the technical aspects of a job, the PM will never forget about the human
element and forget that people are the backbone of a company

7. Cool Under Pressure
• The job of an PM can be incredibly stressful. Not only is the success of the company or
department his/her responsibility, PM’s usually work long hours and weekends
• They need to be able to remain calm no matter what problems occur. In the event of a
problem, the PM needs to have the cool mindset to quickly troubleshoot the problem

8. Program Manager Attributes
A PM runs the day-to-day operations of an organization or business. His or her sole purpose
is to find ways to make the company more productive by providing effective methods in its
business operations. An individual in this position usually prepares program budgets,
facilitates several programs around the company, controls inventory, handles logistics and
interviews and supervises employees:
Work Environment
• One of the duties a PM has to perform is to provide a work environment that engenders
positive energy, creativity and teamwork among employees. To ensure that this goal is
achieved, PM’s try to reach compromises with employees by conducting meetings,
listening to each department's issues and concerns, and setting a professional example by
showing leadership qualities
Institute Rules
• In order for a department to run smoothly, a PM has to set rules and procedures for
employees to follow. This includes setting policies in the workplace to ensure effective
implementation and adherence among each and every employee in the organization
Manages Budget
• A PM usually handles a company’s operating budget to determine how much the company
has spent and what it can purchase in the near future. Being a PM is all about serving
customers; therefore the individual needs to know how much money is in a company's
budget to provide the products and services that will retain customers

9. Program Manager Attributes – Cont’d
Representative
• PM’s are also representatives at committee meetings and functions. The manager will be a
spokesperson for the company and discuss the various objectives and plans the
organization has in store to make its business more successful
Decision-Maker
• Handling issues is also a top priority among PM’s. Many issues that PM’s have to face
include risk management, shipment delays, clients’ dissatisfaction and employee
problems. This is when leadership skills come into play, as PM’s have to make effective
decisions that will not only help the company run smoothly but that also serve to prevent
difficult situations in the future
Recruiter / Supervisor
• Operation managers are also responsible for hiring employees inside an organization, as
well as supervising and evaluating employees and their job performance. In addition to
being a recruiter, PM’s give directions to employees on certain job tasks, resolve problems
concerning employees’ work performance, establish rules and procedures and create work
schedules

10. Foundations of Project Success
Scope and Requirements
Schedule
Project Success
Quality
Cost
Integrity and Safety

11. The
End
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