What kind of person do you think of when you think of a project manager? For man, it’s someone extremely organized: a systems thinker who is rigid, detail-oriented, and relentlessly focused on processes.

While structure is absolutely essential in project work, that’s only half the picture.

Project managers do need to operate within frameworks. They plan timelines with dependencies in mind, maintain project flow, manage budgets, monitor risks, allocate resources, and keep teams aligned. These responsibilities require discipline, consistency, and a structured approach.

The less obvious, and often more transformative, trait of a good project manager is creativity.

Project managers are problem solvers and innovators at heart. Creativity allows them to approach challenges from new angles, identify solutions others may miss, and bring their teams’ ideas to life. It allows the project team to be more adaptable and flexible to the needs of the project when the unexpected inevitable arises.

Finding the balance between structure and creativity can be challenging. Some processes must remain consistent to succeed, so you have to be discerning. When a good project manager knows where flexibility and creativity can thrive, that balance fosters a team culture of innovation and continuous improvement.

Structure provides the roadmap while creativity fuels the vision and helps navigate the detours. Both are needed for successful projects.