Clark Turner and James McConnell explore the critical differences between good and great project managers for contracting companies, offering insights that can transform your hiring process and business growth trajectory.

• Good PMs have technical knowledge, but great PMs can effectively teach and translate that knowledge for clients 
• Great PMs possess emotional intelligence to identify when clients feel uncomfortable and proactively address concerns
• Finding the right balance between being people-oriented and task-focused is essential for PM excellence
• During interviews, look beyond confidence and immediate availability to identify curiosity, ownership mentality, and receptiveness to criticism
• The first PM hire is especially critical as they represent 50% of your workforce and set the tone for company culture
• Hold out for "unicorn" candidates rather than settling for merely adequate PMs
• Great PMs take complete ownership of everything within their control without deflecting blame
• Curiosity is a fundamental trait that drives continuous learning and improvement in exceptional PMs

If you need help with your hiring process or growing your contracting business, contact Clark at [email protected].

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