{"id":4257,"date":"2023-03-16T14:32:56","date_gmt":"2023-03-16T14:32:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/?p=4257"},"modified":"2024-03-05T09:23:09","modified_gmt":"2024-03-05T09:23:09","slug":"project-lead","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/project-management\/project-lead","title":{"rendered":"Project lead: Role, responsibilities, and the skills you need to succeed"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re new to project management, it\u2019s likely that you\u2019ve come across roles and titles that sound very similar.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Between project leads, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/project-owner#Project-owner-vs-project-manager\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">project owners<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/get.resourceguruapp.com\/ebook-confessions-of-a-project-manager\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">project managers<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and aaalll the other roles on the list, we know\u2014it\u2019s easy to get confused.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So let\u2019s get some clarity once and for all.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this article, we\u2019ll take you through <a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/project-lead#Project-lead-definition\">the definition of a project lead<\/a>, clarify <a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/project-lead#Project-lead-vs-project-manager\">the difference between a project lead and a project manager<\/a>, and outline <a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/project-lead#Project-lead-responsibilities\">the responsibilities and skills of a project lead<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At the end of it, the previous confusion will be a distant memory.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">In this article \ud83d\udcd6<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/project-management\/project-lead\/#Project-lead-synonyms\" >Project lead synonyms<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/project-management\/project-lead\/#Project-lead-definition\" >Project lead definition<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/project-management\/project-lead\/#Project-lead-vs-project-manager\" >Project lead vs. project manager<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/project-management\/project-lead\/#Project-lead-responsibilities\" >Project lead responsibilities<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/project-management\/project-lead\/#10-essential-project-leader-skills-and-characteristics-your-team-will-love-you-for\" >10 essential project leader skills and characteristics (your team will love you for)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/project-management\/project-lead\/#A-bright-future-for-project-leads\" >A bright future for project leads<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Project-lead-synonyms\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Project lead synonyms<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">First things first, we wanted to clarify that there are a few (very similar) titles to project lead that you may have encountered.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They are:<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Project leader<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Project team lead<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Project team leader<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Project management lead (or leader)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These are typically used interchangeably with the project lead title, and will be used throughout this post.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Project-lead-definition\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Project lead definition<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A project lead can be defined as someone who has similar responsibilities to a project manager (PM), but they don\u2019t have the qualifications to step into an official PM role.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In practical terms, that means they can do everything a project manager does, but they\u2019re not as experienced and they don\u2019t have a PMP certification.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now, while that\u2019s the official story, the definition might vary from company to company and industry to industry. Like any other role, it can evolve, grow, and be refined over time.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While there\u2019s no official definition for the role, and it can seem (too) similar to the role of a project manager, there are some important distinctions.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Project-lead-vs-project-manager\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Project lead vs. project manager<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While we know that the role of the project team roles can differ depending on the business, there are typically some key differences between a project leader and a project manager.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is the role of project leader?<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A project lead is often responsible for leading a specific aspect of a project or a smaller project<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They may be responsible for developing a project plan (or parts of one), managing a small team, overseeing specific tasks, and reporting on progress to a project manager or higher-level management<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The project lead may not have the same level of authority or responsibility as a project manager, but they still play an important role in ensuring <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/drive-project-success\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">project success<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As we already covered, project leader role may be the same or similar as a project manager\u2019s role, but they don\u2019t have the official qualifications (a PMP certification)\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In bigger organizations, a project lead typically reports to the project manager\u2014we\u2019ll come on to PMs next<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is the role of a project manager?<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The main difference <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">between leading and managing a project, is that<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> the project manager has more authority and responsibility than a project lead<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A project manager is responsible for managing the entire <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/project-life-cycle\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">project life cycle<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, from <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/project-initiation\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">initiation<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">closure<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, rather than just one specific part<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They are responsible for <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/free-project-plan-template-for-excel\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">developing a project plan<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, managing the whole project team, coordinating with stakeholders, tracking progress, managing the project budget, and ensuring that the project is delivered on time and within budget<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They have the ability to make decisions that impact the project as a whole, and are ultimately accountable for the success or failure of the project<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now, let\u2019s take a closer look at the potential project lead responsibilities.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Project-lead-responsibilities\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Project lead responsibilities<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Are you ready to become a project leader, but want to know more about what the responsibilities are?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Again, yes\u2014this depends on the company. But each project team should clearly outline the project lead roles and responsibilities upfront.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On a high level, and similar to a project manager, the responsibilities that might be included in a project leader job description include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Project planning: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The project lead works alongside the project manager to develop <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/free-project-plan-template-for-excel\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a comprehensive project plan<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that includes <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/what-is-project-scope\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">project scope<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, timeline, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/how-to-create-the-ultimate-project-budget-template-free-excel-template\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">budget<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/resource-allocation-guide\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">resource allocation<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Team management: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The project lead is responsible for managing the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">project team<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, assigning tasks, and ensuring that team members are working effectively together.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Risk management: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Identifying potential risks and blockers to a project is a huge part of project management. Depending on the type and size of the project, you\u2019ll need strategies in place to mitigate risks.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Communication: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The project lead is responsible for communicating with stakeholders, including clients, team members, and senior management, to ensure everyone is kept up-to-date on project progress.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Quality assurance: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The project lead should ensure that the project is meeting quality standards and that deliverables meet the requirements of stakeholders.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Resource management: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Resource management may not be sexy, but it\u2019s what keeps projects moving forward. If you don\u2019t get your <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/resource-scheduling-guide\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">resource scheduling<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> right, worst case scenario\u2014you put the entire project at risk.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Budget management: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The project lead is responsible for managing the project budget and ensuring that costs are controlled.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Reporting: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The project lead is responsible for preparing project reports, including reports on project progress, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/project-managers-resource-utilization\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">resource utilization<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and ultimately the final project closure report.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Problem-solving:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Problem-solving may be part of any job, but in the world of project management, it\u2019s something we take very seriously. In fact, it pretty much <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">is<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> the job. The project lead should be able to identify problems and find solutions to overcome them<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Leadership: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The project lead should be able to motivate and inspire the project team, and more importantly, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/project-collaboration\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">enable collaboration<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now that the responsibilities are clear, we can dive into the next section\u2014project leader skills.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"10-essential-project-leader-skills-and-characteristics-your-team-will-love-you-for\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">10 essential project leader skills and characteristics (your team will love you for)<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whether you\u2019re starting off as an assistant project lead, an associate project leader, or going into a more senior project lead position, your purpose is to support and enable your team, facilitating the route to project success alongside the project manager.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So what does it take?<\/span><b><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>1. Strong leadership skills<br \/>\n<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Every team needs a leader that\u2019s able to inspire and motivate them, set clear goals, and provide direction and guidance. No matter the size of the project, leadership is essential to success.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>2. Great communication skills<br \/>\n<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Communication is critical in project management, and a project lead should be able to communicate effectively with team members, stakeholders, and other parties involved in the project.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sounds easy enough, right? But communication breakdowns happen all the time, especially in bigger projects where it\u2019s easy for information to get lost between people, processes, and tools. For bigger projects, you\u2019ll want to have a communication plan in place for everyone to adhere to. That way, you can make sure nothing falls between the cracks.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>3. Impeccable organizational skills<br \/>\n<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A successful project lead should be able to plan and organize the project, set deadlines and milestones, and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/resource-capacity-planning-guide\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">manage the resources<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and budget effectively.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>4. Creative problem-solving skills<\/b><b><br \/>\n<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a project lead, problem-solving is part of the job. You should be able to identify potential problems, analyze them, and come up with effective solutions.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>5. Solid time management skills<br \/>\n<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A project lead should be able to prioritize tasks, manage time effectively, and ensure that the project is completed within the set timeframe. Whether you carry out <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/time-blocking\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">time blocking<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as a team, or let team members <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/time-blocking#From-task-batching-to-day-theming-7-time-blocking-techniques-examples\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">choose another time management technique<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that works for them, your job is to make sure things get done on time.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><\/b><b>6. Technical expertise (when needed)<br \/>\n<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Depending on the type of project, a project lead should have the necessary technical expertise to understand the project&#8217;s requirements and specifications.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>7. Adaptability and flexibility<br \/>\n<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Projects can be unpredictable, and a successful project lead should be able to adapt to changes and be flexible enough to handle unexpected challenges. Whether it\u2019s about <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/workload-management-tips-for-project-managers\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">workloads<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/solve-resource-overallocation\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">resource allocation<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, or something else, flexibility is essential to help rework or rethink plans as projects change.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>8. Team management (and interpersonal) skills<br \/>\n<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A project lead should be able to manage the team effectively, delegate tasks, provide feedback and support, and ensure that the team works together toward the project&#8217;s success. But interpersonal skills are just as important to help team members develop and grow independently.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>9. Great at compromise and negotiation<br \/>\n<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In project management, it\u2019s very likely that you\u2019ll find yourself in <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/smart-project-negotiating-strategies\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">negotiations<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on a daily basis. Whether it\u2019s about prioritizing tasks, getting a client to budge on a project timeline, or something else, learning when and where to compromise and when to hold your own, is essential.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>10. Attention to detail<br \/>\n<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The devil\u2019s in the detail couldn\u2019t be more true than in project management, where things seemingly simple can quickly spiral out of control (and that\u2019s how you end up with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/scope-creep\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">scope creep<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). So with the finger on the pulse of the project, no detail should get past a great project lead.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now that you know how to be a good project leader, you might think hey, I don\u2019t have all those skills. That\u2019s totally fine. You can develop and build on existing skills.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you really want to take it to the next level, you might want to explore becoming an agile project leader.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Agile project leader skills<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now we\u2019re talking about some serious project management leader stuff. Agile project leaders not only have all the skills we\u2019ve just covered, but they can also practice the following:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>They\u2019re aware of their own bias<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014confirmation bias is everywhere, the best leaders challenge themselves and their views<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>They recognize that team members need different things<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to be successful in their roles and when doing their tasks<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>They know how to create a diverse but balanced team<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that works well together, whether they\u2019re technical experts or creative thinkers<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A-bright-future-for-project-leads\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A bright future for project leads<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recent years have posed new challenges for project leads everywhere. Whether it\u2019s moving to a hybrid or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/remote-project-management-tips\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">remote project management<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> model, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/team-burnout\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">preventing team burnout<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, or figuring out how to build your <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/remote-project-management-tech-stack\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PM tech stack<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, project leads and managers sure have a challenge cut out for them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But a bright future lies ahead.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to a report from PMI, the demand for project talent is huge, and by 2027, almost <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.knowledgehut.com\/blog\/project-management\/future-of-project-management#is-project-management-in-demand\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">88 million people<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> will be in project management roles.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So if you\u2019re thinking about a career in project management\u2014no better time than the present.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019re new to project management, it\u2019s likely that you\u2019ve come across roles and titles that sound very similar.\u00a0Between project leads, project owners, project managers, and aaalll the other roles on the list, we know\u2014it\u2019s easy&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":30,"featured_media":4258,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","mc4wp_mailchimp_campaign":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[38],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4257","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-project-management"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Project lead | Role, responsibilities, and skills<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn exactly what a project lead is, how it differs from a project manager, and how to be a good project leader.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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