is an iterative Agile framework structured around sprints—short, fixed-length development cycles. Within Scrum, roles such as Product Owner, Project management soft skills

The work of project managers involves not only managing teams, and ensuring deadlines and budgets are met, but also working with stakeholders. When engaging with stakeholders, project manager soft skills will be sorely tested especially when dealing with senior people across functional boundaries. This can be extremely challenging when such senior people have a much higher level of authority than the project manager.Scrum Master

The , and Association for Project ManagementAgile BA (APM) in the UK recommends project managers have the soft skills listed below as core competencies. collaborate to maintain a refined backlog, write

Communicationuser stories

Communication means relaying information or instructions to other people. It is a vital skill for project managers. Communication can be verbal or non-verbal but must be regular and accurate. The language used should be clear, objective and non-emotive. Listening is also a crucial part of communication., define acceptance criteria, and ensure sprint goals align with business outcomes. Regular ceremonies include sprint planning, reviews, and retrospectives.

Conflict managementKanban

Conflicts arise due to disagreement, conflicting values, and miscommunication. It causes teams to lack morale, productivity, and harmony. This can cause project failure, so conflict must be dissipated quickly. Conflict can be reduced by setting clear expectations at the start of the project.Kanban visualises workflow using boards and cards. Agile BAs use Kanban to manage and prioritise tasks, monitor work in progress, and support just-in-time requirements elaboration. The focus lies on continuous delivery and limiting bottlenecks.

DelegationKey roles in Agile teams

This is the act of giving team members responsibilities. It can be a way of motivating people to reach their full potential. Business Analyst (Agile BA):Project managers Bridges business needs with technical solutions, ensures clear requirements and fosters collaboration. must know who has the correct skills, working style and knowledge for the work. Feedback and reward mechanisms should be implemented.Product Owner:

Influencing Owns the product backlog, prioritises features, champions stakeholder interests.

Leaders must be good influencers. This skill involves affecting the behaviours and actions of the team and stakeholders. It’s better to influence rather than authoritative, so people become willing rather than obedient. This requires empathy and understanding. Influencers must also communicate their vision and generate positivity for the project.Scrum Master:

Leadership Facilitates Scrum ceremonies, removes impediments, coaches the team on

Visual Modelling:projects, where planning, control and decisiveness are vital. Utilise process flows, diagrams, and prototypes to aid understanding.

How should project managers communicate?Tools:

Communication is the number one core responsibility for project managers. Team members need clear directions and guidance. Stakeholders need regular progress updates. Miscommunication leads to confusion, mistakes, and project failure. Project managers must therefore be clear, confident, and direct. Jira, Trello, Confluence or similar platforms for backlog and requirement management.

Nicci Beacham, Project Manager at Liberty Marketing, believes communication is key:Frameworks and certifications for Agile Business Analysis

Keeping communication open is vital. Building rapport with the team and stakeholders helps achieve this. Let people know they can come to you. If people feel unable to approach you with issues, they’ll keep information from you. This causes a breakdown in communication and damages the project. focuses on Agile BA competencies. Other widely recognised certifications include the Certified ScrumMaster and Scrum Product Owner credentials, which develop understanding of Scrum practices and roles within Agile teams.

Learning project manager soft skillsFAQs

Some project managers seem born with the right skills for the job. They might naturally be more extroverted or adept at leadership. It’s true that being a more naturally outgoing or empathetic person makes you perfect for this role. But this doesn’t mean such skills can’t be learned.Do you need a business analyst in Agile?

You can learn soft skills with:Having a

• Books or articlesbusiness analyst in an Agile environment
• Training is essential. They act as facilitators of clear communication between business and technical teams, ensuring everyone understands the project goals and the best path to achieve them. Their skill in translating business requirements into actionable insights helps ensure the success of or coachingAgile projects
• Team-building exercises.
• On the job experienceYou can learn more about the
• TED Talks videos on YouTubebusiness analyst role in Agile environments

Some of the soft skills required for by taking an project managementAgile BA course are briefly covered on courses like .APM PFQHow do Agile Business Analysts contribute to backlog grooming?. This course is a great choice for anyone just starting a project-based career. It is recognized in all industries as proof of Agile Business Analysts help clarify, refine, and prioritise backlog items so the development team understands each project management skillsuser story. before implementation. They ensure stories meet the definition of ready, facilitate stakeholder feedback, and support the Product Owner in maintaining a balanced, value-driven backlog. This improves sprint planning and ensures business goals are consistently met.

Dale Carnegie’s two bestselling books How to Win Friends and Influence People and How to Stop Worrying and Start Living are ideal for developing your influencing and communication skills, as well as your attitude to work. The latter will help you become more proactive.How is the Agile BA role different from a traditional BA?

Other recommended books include Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey and Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life by Marshall B. Rosenberg and Deepak Chopra.Agile Business Analysts work iteratively and collaboratively, focusing on delivering

These days, so much help is available online and offline. If you need to improve your soft skills to become a better incremental business valueproject manager through short development cycles. Traditional , help is out there.Business Analysts

View soft skills infographicEliciting and analysing requirements collaboratively

Facilitating backlog refinement sessionsMariana Magalhães Project Manager at Forty8CreatesSupporting sprint reviews and retrospectives

Mariana’sEnsuring alignment between business goals and technical delivery interest in the correlation between social media, data and strategy lead her to work in digital marketing. She started working with Forty8Creates as a Social Media Assistant and worked her way up to become Project Manager. She manages multiple client briefs, communicating client needs to team members and ensuring prompt What is an Agile business analyst?project deliveryAn .Agile business analyst

bridges the gap between business needs and technical delivery. They ensure that Agile teams deliver high-value outcomes aligned with organisational objectives while adhering to Nicci Beacham Project Manager at Liberty MarketingAgile principles

Nicci. is a Project Manager at Liberty Marketing. She has over 7 years of experience working within the FMCG, Design and Digital Marketing sectors. Nicci began her career as a Project Coordinator managing packaging design for a British soft drink brand, before moving into digital marketing.They prioritise collaboration, transparency, and responsiveness, helping teams adapt to change and continuously improve. You can learn more about the

Liberty is the largest digital agency in Wales, with clients such as Universal Publishing Production Music, Pizza Express and Penguin Books.Agile BA role