How to Detect a Fake Project Manager

Not every person with a “Project Manager” title knows how to manage projects. Some bluff their way through meetings and milestones without delivering any real value. This article breaks down how to spot a fake project manager—before they waste your team’s time and energy.

Knowledge Gaps

Lack of SDLC or Agile understanding - Can’t explain basic concepts like planning, execution, delivery, or retrospectives.
Buzzword overload - Uses terms like synergy, velocity, or deliverables without meaningful context.
Avoids technical context - Uncomfortable talking about the tech stack, team capacity, or typical blockers.

Process Failures

No planning discipline - Skips backlog grooming, rarely updates boards, and relies on ad-hoc task tracking.
Blame culture - Blames developers for delays without managing dependencies or clarifying scope creep.
Meeting theatre - Organises constant standups and syncs, but outcomes are vague or non-existent.

Leadership Red Flags

Delegation dodger - Avoids accountability by passing responsibility to others under the guise of “empowering the team.”
Conflict avoidant - Fails to mediate internal issues or handle misaligned priorities.
Over- or under-managing - Either micromanages or completely disappears during critical phases.

Tracking & Metrics Confusion

Inconsistent reporting - Shares misleading burndown charts or vanity metrics disconnected from actual progress.
No KPIs or delivery metrics - Doesn’t track delivery timelines, throughput, or stakeholder satisfaction.

Communication Flaws

Lack of clarity - Project updates are vague (“we’re making progress”) without specifics or actionable insight.
Over-promises, under-delivers - Commits to deadlines without verifying team estimates or feasibility.

How to Confirm Your Suspicion

Ask for a retrospective or demo - Fake PMs will avoid situations where real work or feedback is shown.
Request a delivery roadmap - They won’t have a clear or current version.
Test their response to change - A real PM can articulate how to re-prioritise scope, timelines, or resourcing with logical reasoning.

A title doesn’t make a project manager. Competence, clarity, and accountability do.