The project manager is a key player in company life. They are theoretical and practical professionals who must also rise to the challenges of the exponentially evolving technological landscape.

Project Managers today

In today's business environment, projects are increasingly complex, budgets are tight, and market demands are changing continuously. For these reasons, good project managers must be flexible and organised in this dynamic environment. But what other skills do they need?

The well-structured, simplified answer comes courtesy of the Project Management Institute (PMI), a professional organisation that has been around for more than half a century. Their PMI Talent Triangle covers three main areas:

• Ways of Working (formerly Technical Project Management). This area covers the technical aspects of project management.
• Power Skills (formerly Leadership). This focuses on the leadership skills essential for managing a team and communicating effectively with stakeholders.
• Business Acumen (formerly Strategic and Business Management) covers strategic and business aspects of project management. This includes aligning the project with business objectives, understanding market trends and the competitive landscape, and maximising the business value of the project

Together, these areas ensure that project managers have the knowledge and skills needed to plan, implement and complete projects. But let's dig deeper. A skilled project manager understands the scope of the project, identifies the resources needed and prepares a schedule. In addition, excellent project managers are characterised by soft skills such as curiosity, flexibility, adaptability, empathy, persuasiveness and future orientation. They can manage stakeholders, ensuring that projects are aligned with corporate goals. But what do they need to be prepared for this year?

Project manager trends in 2025

The field of project management is constantly evolving. According to professional opinion, the following trends are expected by 2025:

Increasing use of hybrid project teams. Project managers are increasingly combining elements of different methodologies such as lean, kanban and DevOps. Hybrid project management is expected to become the norm as different teams require different approaches. Project managers need to find a balance between these approaches and adapt to the needs of their teams.

A move towards decentralised project management. Companies are moving from central PMOs (Project Management Offices) to decentralised solutions, where each department has its own project management experts.

• Increasing role of resource management software. AI-based software helps to allocate resources more efficiently and increase project success.
• The growing importance of project managers' understanding of AI, or artificial intelligence. Project managers should use AI tools and understand how AI works to lead sophisticated projects.
• AI-accelerated on-the-job training, as AI enables faster and more efficient training, shortening learning time and speeding up project implementation.
• Integration of AI and machine learning. AI and machine learning are expected to be integrated into project processes, providing predictive analytics, process automation and decision support tools. AI tools can help project managers to identify potential risks, optimise resource allocation and streamline scheduling based on real-time data and historical experience.

Recent trends also show that the use of artificial intelligence is becoming inevitable. But what next?

The convergence of project management and AI

The rapid development of artificial intelligence is transforming the field of project management. Gartner predicts that by 2030, 80% of project management tasks will be performed by AI. AI can automate repetitive tasks, use resources more efficiently and provide more accurate metrics. AI can be used in project planning, scheduling, risk forecasting, cost estimation, risk management, resource allocation and communication with stakeholders. AI-based systems can analyse project data in real time and make recommendations to solve problems.

The role of the project manager is changing in the age of AI. Instead of focusing on administrative tasks, project managers can focus on strategic planning, team building, innovation and ethical leadership. With AI, project managers can better understand project logic, perform complex analyses and use virtual assistants. AI-based tools can help prioritise tasks and allocate responsibilities. For example, Microsoft Copilot, which integrates with multiple office software, can create schedules, assess risk and generate status reports, and its capabilities are growing.

However, it is important to note that AI is not a replacement for project managers but a complement to their skills! Paul Boudreau, an AI researcher and author of several scientific bestsellers, writes about the use of AI in project management. He says that machine learning algorithms cannot deliver results without organised data and the help of a project manager. AI cannot handle human complexities, such as team morale or conflict management. Project managers remain essential for decision making, interpretation of results and teamwork. AI supports project managers by providing valuable information and analysis, but the final decision is always made by humans. That is why it is worth considering what to expect from a valuable all-round professional.

What are the characteristics of excellent project managers?

The case study above shows how a project manager can turn a company around and get the organisation moving in the right direction - even in a short timeframe. But let's detail the qualities and soft skills required! Without being exhaustive:

• Organisational skills, i.e. managing abilities, planning capabilities and resource management.
• Flexibility, as you need to adapt to changing circumstances and priorities.
• Stakeholder management and communication, because managing the needs of different stakeholders and communicating effectively with them can be key.
• Decision-making capabilities, because an excellent project manager is decisive in making the right decisions.
• Motivation because the project manager understands the team, motivates the individuals and encourages them to achieve common goals.
• Accountability, because the project manager must be able to take responsibility for the results of the project.
• Calmness, because an excellent project manager handles stress well and remains calm in difficult situations.
• Choosing the right tools: The project manager is aware of the advantages and disadvantages of different methodologies and software applications and chooses the most appropriate one for the situation.
• They praise and acknowledge the contribution of team members and share success with them.

Project Management and Interim Ltd.

The following Interim Ltd. case study illustrates how an experienced interim project manager can help in a crisis. A large Japanese automotive supplier's Eastern European plant was experiencing problems following the launch of a new product line. The technological processes were incomplete, the staff did not form a team, and there was no management accountability system. The situation had reached the point where customer demand could only be met by daily express helicopter deliveries.

The solution to the problem was provided by the project manager of Interim Ltd. who quickly assessed the situation and personally contributed to the implementation of the solution steps. He reviewed and corrected the technological processes, introduced team building tools, daily reports and individual mentoring - His complex solution involved not only reviewing and improving technological processes but also daily reports and individual mentoring.

Read more about the case study here!