Why do excellent project managers fail with a lack of soft skills and relationship management

Question

I have come across many expert project managers with excellent execution tools and techniques and yet they fail because of the lack of team support and sponsorship and knowing the "right people and in the right places". I would like to hear your thoughts. 

Thanks

Answer 1

Projects vary in their level of necessity for stakeholder interaction. Further, soft skills and relationship management are very subjective. What you may call "fail" others might call successful. If by "excellent" you mean the project was successful, then the other matters may be a moot point. If on the other hand, the project was successful but the project manager was burning bridges along the way, he/she won't be managing too many projects in the future.

The organization where the project manager belongs to is the responsibility to evaluate the project manager. So, is not about what you or I think about a project manager. Is about an objective evaluation from the place where she/he is performing the role. And the organization (environment, something added with high detail in the new PMBOK Guide version) will drive each person's behavior including the project manager.