The Most Underrated Skill in Project Management: Translation

Early in my Project Management career, I thought success meant mastering scope, timelines, budgets, and risk logs.
Then I realized none of that matters if people aren’t understanding each other.

On one side, you’ve got business stakeholders saying, “We need faster approvals.”
On the other, developers asking, “What’s the data model?”

Same goal.
Different languages.

That’s where the Project Manager steps in — not as a messenger, but as a translator.

We know — especially when on camera and in person — if the message is resonating with the meeting participants.
We know when to pause and check for understanding.
We know that getting everybody on the same page of music is the only way this symphony works.
We know this happens one conversation at a time.

I’ve seen projects turn around the moment someone bridged that gap.
Tension dropped. Decisions got clearer. Momentum returned.

Takeaway: The best PMs don’t just manage scope — they translate intent. They help every stakeholder hear the same story in their own language. This is how Crossfuze Engagement Managers drive successful outcomes for our clients.

How do you approach “translation”  in your ServiceNow projects?