Vertabase Surveys Leaders of Major Global Projects about Successful Leadership

Farmington Hills, Mich., March 11, 2015 (Newswire.com) - Vertabase, a leading project management software company, had the opportunity to survey leaders of major global projects across diverse industries about successful leadership.

“The survey provided valuable insights that all project managers can immediately apply to their projects, regardless of the project’s type or size,” says Mark Phillips, PMP, Principal at Vertabase.

"The survey provided valuable insights that all project managers can immediately apply to their projects, regardless of the project's type or size."

Mark Phillips, PMP, Principal at Vertabase

One survey respondent, the project leader of a new GPS system that includes satellite launches, points out that successful leaders put people before numbers. Although performance indicators are important in measuring a project’s success, it’s the people doing the work that determine the success or failure of a project.

Another participant, a project manager on the redevelopment of a major airport, pointed out, “project management is 20 percent method, 80 percent people.” Successful leaders take the time to listen to their team leaders. For example, in the Vertabase survey, the majority of leaders said they stay in touch with their team members on a weekly basis to get a subjective and emotional measure on how the project is going in order to head off any problems before they impact project performance.

A project leader involved in negotiating a government contract for a new type of military aircraft says successful leaders need to be flexible, but more importantly, keep the end goal in sight. Often times, challenges or unforeseen circumstances may delay or change the original scope of the project. By being flexible so the end goal can be realized ensures project success and goes far in developing long-term partnerships. A good leader, he says, knows when to exercise flexibility for the good of the project.

Successful project leaders also stay true to proven best practices instead of taking shortcuts to appease demands from stakeholders. The leader of a project to redevelop a portion of the Panama Canal says the project was a success because he addressed the pressures from stakeholders by demonstrating how best practices and the team’s expertise would have a better outcome.

Successful leaders also need to rely on the expertise of their employees to solve problems. The global leaders surveyed said a good leader knows when to step back and trust their people to solve technical problems. However, the survey responses made clear that project leaders need to provide their teams with the right tools and conditions to successfully complete the project.

Another project leader, who is addressing an entire country’s water use, says successful leaders are those who are comfortable in thinking outside the box. This, she emphasizes, allows them to make better decisions and provide more effective leadership.

Whether leading a project or a company, the Vertabase survey of leaders of major global projects finds that successful leaders possess both inherent and learned traits that keep a project on course and ensure desired outcomes are achieved.

For more information about project management and how to successfully lead a project, visit the Vertabase blog at http://vertabase.com/blog/.

About Vertabase

Vertabase is a customer focused company proudly based in Michigan. The company’s flagship product, Vertabase project management software, has been on the market since 1999. It is used by tens of thousands of people around the world with customers ranging from large public companies, government agencies and universities to small and medium sized businesses and non-profit organizations. Vertabase is a dedicated innovator, focused on delivering value to its community of clients. It is this approach that has contributed to the company’s longevity and success. Vertabase is a privately held company founded in 1997. For more information, visit www.vertabase.com.