VASS University: Power Skills for Project Managers

7/4/2025

Each project is a universe unto itself. Some shine with success, while others collapse under their own pressure. But what makes the difference?

A few days ago, together with VASS University, we reflected on a key point: the success of projects depends, to a large extent, on the Power Skills (formerly known as soft skills) of Project Managers. Technical knowledge alone is not enough!

The importance of Power Skills

During the session, we identified some fundamental skills that a Project Manager should have:

Assertive communication
Active listening
Conflict resolution
Delegation
Team motivation
Colaboration
Stress management
Change facilitation
Decision-making under uncertainty

But here’s the challenge: not all power skills are equally critical in every project. Depending on the complexity, environment, and stakeholders, some will carry more weight than others. Yes, in theory we want a Project Manager who has it all, but in practice, let’s think about the Pareto principle: 80% of results come from 20% of key skills.

Here is a fascinating example: the James Webb Space Telescope, one of the most ambitious missions in history, which faced monumental challenges:

A budget that went from USD 1 billion to USD 10 billion.
A 14-year delay
Technical and management crises that almost led to its cancellation

With a team of brilliant experts, what was going wrong? In 2018, the course changed. The key was not technology, but power skills. The new Programme Manager prioritised transparent communication, building trust and managing mistakes as opportunities for improvement. In this type of project, those were the critical skills, because the techniques were already covered.

In the end, projects are like stars: they are born out of chaos, dust and pressure, but with the right leadership, they can shine and transform organisations. Otherwise, they risk becoming black holes.

And you:

How do you identify these skills in your projects?
Do you assign Project Managers solely based on their technical expertise, or do you also consider their Power Skills?

by Claudia Salas