How to succeed as a project manager in healthcare

If you are passionate about healthcare and want to make a positive impact on its delivery, then a career in project management can provide you with opportunities to make a difference. However, this industry is not without its challenges and overseeing, balancing, and completing projects can be difficult, making it harder to climb your way to the top of that project management ladder.

In spite of this, healthcare project management jobs are on the rise. This makes it easier to succeed in clinical project manager jobs and similar vocations. But we all know that it takes more than availability to advance our careers. To prove yourself as a healthcare project manager, you need to equip yourself with tools that will be a driving force. Let’s overview some of these tools.

A clear understanding of the role

Most project management roles in healthcare are geared toward creating and completing projects to achieve specific health outcomes for patients. As a project manager, you may also be tasked to identify issues within an operation, and then lead teams and apply solutions to address them.

But some roles or projects may be more unique, and your responsibilities will differ. For example, medical sales managers may be tasked to oversee mobile sales teams and make sure they reach their targets. On the other hand, clinical project managers often work in laboratory settings and will be responsible for overseeing the discovery, testing, and safe deployment of drugs and medical devices. Taking time to understand the nuances of your role and responsibilities will help to determine other essential skills needed to thrive.

The ability to prioritise (and delegate) tasks

Healthcare project managers are often under pressure to meet different goals and schedules. They, therefore, need to be ready and able to find solutions and solve problems timeously, either collaboratively or on their own. Having the skills to prioritise tasks and delegate to team members can help organise projects, so much so that multitasking eventually becomes second nature, and any pressure is handled strategically and with composure. You’ll find that our next essential tool, “strong interpersonal skills,” helps to smoothen out the course and success of projects.

Strong interpersonal skills

One of the most important skills in any job is the ability to communicate confidently and effectively. Interpersonal skills, in project management, are essential because, without good communication, projects can stall or take longer to complete. This makes strong interpersonal skills a valuable component of the project management chain. For communication to be effective, it must be clear, concise, and empathetic. If you can hone these skills, your chances of building stable networks will increase, along with your chances of strengthening your position as project manager.

A passion for broadening horizons

Healthcare systems are complex and they’re also constantly evolving. To keep up with these changes and to succeed as a project manager, you need to be flexible and willing to constantly learn. From introducing new technologies to your work processes to adapting to changing needs of clients and colleagues, you’ll need to be flexible and open to change. You’ll also need to broaden your horizons and stay on top of current trends in your industry. Even when working your way up from associate project manager jobs, knowledge and a continuous, keen study of your role and responsibilities will help you advance and gain leadership status.

Move your project management career forward with IQVIA

The best way to succeed in project management is to associate yourself with a team that is passionate about healthcare and medical sales. IQVIA uses science and data to help healthcare clients find the most effective solutions for their patients. We’re on a journey to make a positive impact on patient health. We have a strong network of colleagues and vast industry knowledge.

If you’re looking for a career where you can put your very best skills to practice, then we invite you to browse our project manager jobs today.