True Attributes of a Project Manager: Initiative & Tenacity

Why initiative and tenacity? Because they truly go hand in hand. Initiative is the ability to put things in motion and keep them going. Tenacity is the determination and persistence to see the project through to success. Initiative gets the ball rolling and tenacity makes sure it doesn’t stop.

This is often counter intuitive in the corporate world. Employees in large corporations are conditioned to focus on their work and not step outside their lane. With everyone “staying in their lane,” when things go wrong on a project, the project comes to a screeching halt. Excuses like “so and so was on vacation” and “I didn’t want to step on so and so’s toes” become the status quo. This is where initiative and tenacity come in for project managers to jump in and keep the project moving forward.

Here’s what it looks like in practice and how to develop these traits:

Initiative

Initiative is about taking action without being asked. It’s the drive to start something. Excellent project managers see a need or opportunity and move on it without waiting for permission or the perfect conditions. This doesn’t mean they take action haphazardly. They understand the project scope and overall goal to the point where they know exactly what needs to happen.

For example, one of our project managers saw that our client’s Controller was in the middle of month-end close and didn’t have time to get an important project communication out to the accounting team. Our project manager took the initiative to draft the communications and gave it to the Controller to quickly review and send out. Our project manager could act without second guessing because they knew the project inside and out. And sometimes it’s the little things like this that keep a project going.

What it looks like in practice:

• Taking action or making decisions without being asked. Project managers shouldn’t wait for someone to tell them what to do or grant permission. If they need to consult an executive before making a decision, they’ll have the initiative to do it.
• Seeing a problem and quickly stepping up to address it. Whether a team issue or a process gap, they’ll be the one to jump in and solve it.
• Knowing when the right amount of information has been gathered to make a decision to avoid stalling.
• Staying aware of needs and opportunities. They stay in the loop so they can be ready to offer support and solutions.
• Looking ahead to scan for potential future challenges. They aren’t just focused on current issues. They’re planning for future outcomes.

Tenacity

Tenacity is the grit and determination to keep pushing through obstacles or unexpected setbacks. A project manager with tenacity finishes what they start, no matter how tough it gets. They have true staying power. Tenacity is a mix of endurance, adaptability, and conviction.

For example, one of our project managers faced a challenge with a managed service provider (MSP) falling behind schedule on an important cloud migration project. It was at the tipping point of causing the project to be significantly delayed. Our project manager quickly stepped in, made all sorts of phone calls to the MSP staff to identify the root cause of their delays. She quickly found out they were only waiting for a few key decisions to be made and communicated by the client infrastructure director to get things back on track.

What it looks like in practice:

• Following up and following through. They don’t set it and forget it. If something isn’t getting done, they’re going to figure out the roadblocks and work to remove them.
• Finding a way forward when things don’t go as planned. Something unexpected always arises during a project. Timelines shift. People forget to complete a task. The project scope changes. Regardless, project managers must keep things rolling.
• Not being thrown by uncertainty. Excellent project managers adapt without losing direction.
• Holding standards under pressure. They make sure work is completed with excellence. They don’t allow pressure to diminish quality.
• Sustaining the team. Tenacity includes motivating the team and keeping them engaging and focused on the mission. It’s the project managers job to set the tone and model a strong work ethic.

How to Develop Tenacity & Initiative

It takes some time to hone these qualities, but it’s entirely possible to cultivate them over time. Here’s what to do now, whether you’re in between projects or currently leading a team.

Take initiative. If something needs to get done, offer to do it. If someone needs help, jump in. If you notice an issue no one is doing anything about, present a solution. Don’t wait to be asked. It may seem like a risk, but if you are doing the right thing and get in trouble, maybe you’re at the wrong company.

Done is better than perfect. A big barrier to initiative is the desire for perfection. Start with an “ugly version.” If you don’t know something, make a note and move on. Just get everything out, ignoring polish and structure. From there, you have a great foundation to build off instead of letting roadblocks get in the way. There will be people who expect perfection and their perfection is often a result of indecisiveness and fear. Recognize it for what it is.

Don’t automatically avoid friction. Look for things you’re comfortable doing and try to do them differently. If you always email, initiate a call. If you always use spreadsheets, try a quick analysis using code. Change creates friction, and friction builds resilience. Plus, changing things usually get people’s attention toward action while doing the same thing over and over gets ignored.

Practice discipline. Tenacity isn't fueled by excitement. It's fueled by discipline. Stay disciplined by adopting the right habits and phasing out the wrong ones. This also includes making sure your supervisor knows where you are instilling discipline. Get their buy in to make sure they can support you.

Building Trust

Initiative and tenacity are the traits that make your word a guarantee, because people know that if you start something, it will get done. When you consistently possess both, you stop being just another project manager. You become the person the team relies on in chaos, the person executives trust with high-risk problems, and the person everyone knows will see projects through to success. It’s what makes a project manager indispensable.

At Trenegy, we guide organizations through any major project that requires technology, process, and people changes. To chat with our team about this, email info@trenegy.com.

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See more:

True Attributes of a Project Manager

True Attributes of a Project Manager: Boldness

True Attributes of a Project Manager: Curiosity

True Attributes of a Project Manager: Ownership