By Rustam Khadka – Project Manager in Nepal
Also published on my blog: LinkedIn
Being a full-time movie buff, I’ve grown up watching superhero films, from Iron Man and Superman to Doctor Strange, Captain America, Batman, and of course, the infamous snap of Thanos when he had all the stones. Each of these characters is known for one thing: a unique superpower that sets them apart. It’s not just their costume or charisma; it’s the power they hold that makes them legendary and, often, successful in their missions.
Now, let’s bring that lens to the real world. To common people. To us professionals.
We, too, are hired, not for capes or combat skills, but because of the skills and potential we carry. And here, I want to take a moment to salute all those hiring managers who can see that potential in us.
Hiring managers who can spot potential, that’s their superpower.
That ability to spot a hidden gem in a pile of resumes isn’t that their superpower? The intuition to select someone not just for who they are on paper, but who they could become in action. More often than not, they’re right. That power of discernment? Pure gold.
Some of us are lucky to know our strengths from the very beginning. Others discover them over time, through challenges, mistakes, and growth. And today, I want to talk about one such strength, or should I say… superpower, that I’ve come to value deeply as a Project Manager.
Some of us are born with it. Some of us grow into it. But the one ability I’ve come to deeply respect in project management is…
Foresight: The Ability to See Around Corners
In all the years I’ve spent managing teams and projects, one skill has consistently stood out as the difference between surviving and succeeding: foresight.
The ability to anticipate problems before they arise. To pick up on silence in a meeting that speaks louder than words. To notice the slight delay in deliverables that hints at a bigger issue brewing underneath. To know when a “yes” doesn’t really mean yes, and to act on it before it snowballs.
It’s not dramatic like flying or time travel. But in the world of projects, it’s just as powerful.
Why Foresight Matters More Than Ever
In today’s fast-moving environment, managing a project is no longer just about following a schedule or tracking deliverables. Things change, often without warning. Clients shift priorities. Team members get pulled into parallel commitments. Scope expands mid-sprint. What you planned on Monday might not be valid by Friday.
That’s where foresight makes the difference.
It allows a project manager to:
- Recognise early signals of misalignment
- Sense when a stakeholder is not fully convinced
- Predict timeline pressure points long before they show on the Gantt chart
- Adjust the course quietly before a formal escalation is even needed
And often, the best outcomes are the ones that don’t make headlines, because you prevented the problem in the first place.
Is It Inborn or Built?
Foresight isn’t something you’re born with. It’s something you build. With time, experience, and above all, presence.
You sharpen it by:
- Listening more than speaking
- Observing patterns, even emotional ones
- Reflecting on failures without ego
- Staying calm when things feel uncertain
It’s a mix of intuition, experience, and people sense. And it keeps getting better the more you pay attention.
A Personal Realisation, and a Reminder from Our Own History
Looking back, the moments I’m most proud of as a Project Manager aren’t the big wins I celebrated with cake and applause. They’re the quiet ones. The moments where I knew something was about to go wrong, and I acted early enough that it never did.
- No one noticed.
- No one thanked me.
- But the project moved forward. Smoothly. Quietly. Successfully.
And that, I believe, is what foresight does, it lets you lead from the shadows with strength.
And speaking of strength in foresight, let’s not forget someone from our own history who is still remembered for exactly that, Prithvi Narayan Shah.
One of the greatest examples of foresight in leadership from our history is Prithvi Narayan Shah. His vision of a unified Nepal wasn’t born of convenience, it was a product of long-sighted planning, knowing what challenges lay ahead, and preparing before others even saw the threat.
His ability to envision a unified Nepal long before others could even imagine it wasn’t just leadership, it was foresight in action. He didn’t just react to the politics of his time; he anticipated them. He understood strategy, people, geography, and timing, and his decisions continue to shape our identity today.
That’s the power of foresight.
It may not make noise when it works, but its impact echoes through generations.
Proactive Path (Left to Right – Green Section)
- Sense Risks
- Adjust Plans
- Prepare Team
Reactive Path (Red Section toward the end)
Crisis – The inevitable outcome when early signals are missed and action is delayed.
Of Course, It’s Not the Only Superpower
Let me say this: this may not be the superpower for every PM. Some might say it’s communication. Others, adaptability. Some might swear by negotiation or people management.
And that’s okay.
But for me, and for the way I work, foresight has been the silent, reliable force that’s kept me on course again and again.
Final Thought
We may not be superheroes. No flying suits. No shields. No portals. But in our own way, in our own roles, we too have powers that define us.
For Project Managers, especially in the dynamic, ever-shifting landscape we work in, the power to see around corners is the one that keeps everything else in check.
If you’re just starting out, try to develop it.
If you already have it, keep sharpening it.
And if you’re leading others, help them grow it too. Because projects succeed not just by pushing forward, but by seeing what’s coming and preparing for it together.
Also available on my Article on LinkedIn with full visuals and meta details: Click here
Would love to hear your take:
What’s your Project Management superpower?
Greatly written Rustam dai , apart from this I also believe that taking the blame when things dont get right is also one of the superpower of the project manger. Bravo to all the project managers!!!
What a wonderful read, practically perfect 👍🏻