Essential skills for project management and change success

Finding the right people to drive your business forward has never been more critical. In today's economy, characterised by rapid change, a tight labour market, and increasing economic pressures, organisations must innovate faster and deliver more efficiently. 

Technology transformation is integral to this, as businesses seek to leverage digital solutions to improve operations, customer experiences, and bottom lines. Building high-performing project management, technology, transformation, and change teams is essential to navigate these challenges and seize opportunities.

At Michael Page our market experts identified some of the most important skill sets that employers globally need to look for when hiring into their Projects and Change teams.  

Let's break down the key skills and roles you should be looking for.

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Project management skills

Project management skills are essential for delivering projects on time, within budget, and to the required quality standards. Strong project management is crucial for achieving project goals, managing resources and risks, and delivering value. Here are some essential qualities to look for:

• Agile methodology: This flexible approach is key in fast-moving environments. It helps teams adapt to change and deliver results faster. You’ll need cool, calm, and collected Project Managers who can break a project down into sprints or phases, making it easier to focus on results and successful delivery.
• End-to-end delivery: Project managers who can see the big picture and drive projects from start to finish are invaluable. Overseeing resources, monitoring advancement, and guaranteeing adherence to the scope, these heroes get the job done well. 
• Project management offices (PMO) expertise: A strong PMO ensures projects stay on track, compliant, and deliver value. PMO specialists are guardians of regulation and governance.
• Scrum master: As sprint facilitators, this role is crucial for fostering collaboration, adherence, problem-solving, and continuous improvement within agile teams.

Transformation and change skills

Transformation and change skills are essential for adapting to a rapidly changing business environment. These skills enable organisations to embrace new technologies, processes, and business models to achieve their strategic goals.  

You’ll need strong transformation and change capabilities to enable:

• Digital transformation: Digital and technology skills are in hot demand! From data migration to automation, you’ll need experts who can guide your business into the future.
• Finance transformation: Optimise your financial performance through process improvements and strategic changes. Make your finance departments work smarter – hire in specialists in internal controls and reporting.
• Organisational design and change: Create a culture of innovation and adaptability with skilled change management professionals.
• Business analysis: Identify opportunities for improvement and develop solutions that align with business goals.

Interpersonal, soft skills

Strong interpersonal skills are the foundation of successful project and change initiatives, and especially essential for team building. Fostering a positive team culture and encouraging collaboration can leads to better outcomes for your team and business.

What’s more, the ability to influence and persuade stakeholders is vital for driving change. Key soft skills to look out for in top talent:

• Communication: Effective communication builds trust and ensures everyone is on the same page.
• Stakeholder management: You’ll want talent who can build strong relationships with key stakeholders from day one to gain support and overcome challenges.
• Problem-solving: Innovative thinkers who can find creative solutions are essential for project success.
• Leadership: Hire leaders who inspire and motivate teams to achieve their full potential.

Key roles to hire

To build a well-rounded project and change team, consider these essential roles:

• Project Managers oversee project planning, execution, and delivery.
• Business Analysts bridge the gap between business needs and technical solutions, using data to inform strategic decisions and process improvements.  
• Data Analysts focus on gathering and extracting insights from data, uncovering patterns and trends. Learn more about how Data Analysts can help your business.
• Delivery Managers ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to the required quality standards.
• IT Support provide technical expertise for cloud, infrastructure, and other technology needs such as becoming Gen-AI ready.

Let Michael Page help you build your team

Finding the right people can be time-consuming. Let Michael Page's experienced recruiters handle the search for you. We specialise in sourcing and placing top talent, including project managers, business analysts, IT support, and more.

If you’re looking to hire someone in project management, technology, transformation or change, explore recruitment services for you. Let's connect to discuss your hiring plans.

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Equally, if you’re a skilled professional looking for your next challenge, we can help. Submit your CV to get started.