Voices on Project Management offers insights, tips, advice and personal stories from project managers in different regions and industries. The goal is to get you thinking, and spark a discussion. So, if you read something that you agree with--or even disagree with--leave a comment.
Since the start of the pandemic, changes in our ways of working, our ways of interacting, and with new technologies have accelerated. It's hard to keep up, and sometimes you plan to upskill—but you can’t find the time. Keep these three things in mind as you navigate our new normal:
1. Talk with people Since 2020, I've been more engaged in communities: a marketing community, a project management community, and a coaching community. Each has its own rules of engagement. Some encourage one-to-one video calls—and that's the best way to push yourself to talk with people who may be of different academic backgrounds, work experiences and industries from yourself. Communities or professional associations (like PMI and its local chapters) can help you expand your network.
In addition, you can expand your network easily by reaching out and connecting with people after you take part in webinars or face-to-face events, or when you listen to a podcast you liked.
I also like to schedule informational interviews with people. The aim is to gather information about an industry, a role, and how people have gotten there. The aim is not to ask for a job or to send your CV. The interviewee must be open and share as much as they can. If you are the interviewee, don't expect the interviewer to ask you questions about what they don't know. Describe what you do, the diplomas or certifications in the field, and remove the local jargon.
You may think "people are too busy" to do this, but you'd be surprised by the number of helpful responses you get. After each informational interview, write down what you learned, and where you need to learn more; along with what you did and didn’t like about what you heard.
2. Be kind to yourself It’s easy to blame yourself with negative thoughts like "I'm too slow" or "I don't know what I want." But for some people, it takes time to know what they do and don’t like, along with their strengths and how they want to have an impact. There are also personal and family constraints to consider.
So be kind to yourself and find a supportive network of friends so you can formulate the different steps and what you learned in the process.
I remember a colleague I talked with many years ago who wanted to change jobs. I met him a few months ago, and he told me with a shameful face, "After all of that, I didn't change." And that is okay. If the end result is no change, there is no shame because at least you took the time to explore new paths. You learned about yourself during the process, and you met new people.
Don’t compare yourself with others. That’s easier said than done, but remember that we all have different paths.
3. Go to a professional for help As a project manager, you can work in different roles in the same industry or even transition to a new industry. Project management has transferable skills, but changing your industry may not be so easy. You may need to pave the path with certifications, diplomas, or online courses. Some options are risky for valid reasons. For example, I will not take the risk of managing a nuclear project (and would an employer trust me to do so when I’ve had no experience in that field?).
If you’re becoming too anxious or overwhelmed, or if you feel lost, seek professional help to get guidance to make sense of what you feel and want.
What other things do you recommend to help define your next career step as a project leader?
There are so many things that can be done by project managers to boost their careers (two suggestions):
- Continuously improve as a professional and as a person (How is it done? In several ways, including learning through study, research and observation and simultaneously developing a growth mindset and critical thinking)
- Expand the network of contacts (quantity does not matter, but quality)
All 3 great points, Yasmina.
I would like to add continuous learning and upgrading as a Project leader is one of the key aspects which will help in the next career step.
Thank you for sharing these tips, Yasmina. I really appreciated it!
I recommend you also reflect on your skills, strengths, weaknesses, and areas of interest. Ask yourself questions like:
What are my key strengths as a project leader?
What aspects of project leadership do I enjoy the most?
What skills do I need to further develop or acquire?
Yasmina,
Thank you for sharing this informative article.
a) As aspiring project leaders, we should cultivate emotional intelligence (EQ) by managing our and others' emotions. We should develop empathy to understand team members and stakeholders better.
b) Mindfulness and self-reflection are critical for project professionals to continually evaluate performance and seek opportunities for growth, including seeking and being open to constructive criticism.
c) We should stay informed about novel technology.
d) Finally, successful professional development requires mentorship and coaching as essential components.
Thanks for sharing,
One thing I would like to share, we should keep changing our environment/project/company at a specific time. Such changes help us to change or set our objectives, upgrade our skills, and be up to date with the changing market.
Self-confidence is a key factor to develop as professionals and make the changes that we consider necessary. This factor helps us not to be afraid of the problems that arise, since we are sure that without problems there is no success.
.svg "<font style=\"font-weight:bold; font-size:12px;\">PMI Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Chapter member</font><br> Yasmina has a membership at the PMI Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Chapter"){kind=small}
