Navigating the “What’s next” feeling in your Project Management career
| After several years in project management, it’s natural to wonder, “What’s next?” Similar to a mid-life crisis, where one has secured a stable career, raised a family, and achieved personal milestones, project managers may also face a sense of plateau. The excitement of early career challenges begins to wane, leaving a desire for something more fulfilling or ambitious. Fortunately, there are various ways to reignite passion and elevate one’s career.
Interestingly, this sense of “what’s next?” is not uncommon. I recently conducted a poll on LinkedIn asking project management professionals how they approached this crossroads in their careers. The results? About 38% of respondents chose to transition to a new role—whether that’s climbing the leadership ladder or making a lateral move to leverage transferable skills. Another 30% opted to focus on personal projects, while 28% were eager to tackle bigger, more challenging assignments. Climbing the leadership ladder. One option is to transition into line management roles. If one is looking to take on more strategic responsibilities, positions like Program Manager, Portfolio Manager, or PMO Manager might be appealing. However, as Peter Drucker famously noted, “In a hierarchy, every employee tends to rise to their level of incompetence.” Not everyone is naturally suited to leadership, especially when it involves managing people. There’s a risk that the skills that made someone a great project manager may not translate to success in people management. It’s important to consider whether this path aligns with one’s strengths. Lateral moves for skill transfer. Project management skills are highly transferable to roles like Operations, Business Analysis, or Change Management. This offers a fresh perspective while keeping one close to the project world. However, a lateral move might mean stepping into an unfamiliar domain where one will need to develop new expertise. While this can be a rewarding challenge, the learning curve could feel steep, and it may take time to establish credibility in the new role. Tackle bigger challenges. If one is craving a deeper sense of achievement, seeking out larger, more complex projects can provide a rewarding sense of accomplishment. But bigger projects come with bigger risks and higher stakes. Is one prepared for the added stress? On the other hand, this strategy can open doors to uncharted opportunities. Take Arnold Schwarzenegger, for example. He didn’t stop at becoming a top actor—he kept pushing until he became the Governor of California. Tackling challenges head-on can lead to unexpected, game-changing results in one’s career, too. Engage outside of work. Many professionals find renewed purpose by engaging in projects outside of their core job—whether through pro bono work, mentoring, or pursuing long-neglected hobbies. This can sometimes lead to unexpected opportunities. For example, after finding fulfillment in charitable endeavors, actor Paul Newman founded Newman’s Own, a successful food company that donates all profits to charity. Similarly, professional shifts like this can reinvigorate one’s passion and even open the door to new career avenues. However, balancing these projects with regular work may require careful time management to avoid burnout. At the end of the day, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Whether it’s stepping up the ladder, making a lateral move, chasing bigger projects, or diving into personal passions—one should ensure it aligns with what keeps them motivated. As the poll results show, professionals take diverse paths. So, why not explore, experiment, and keep things exciting? There’s always more to learn, do, and experience! |
Life Goes On: making the best out of Self-Isolation
| One third of world's population is confined. The impact of this pandemic on the economy is yet to be seen, but most economists picture a more than likely recession looming our way. On the positive side, everyone agrees that - it may take more or less time - but we will come out of this situat Contact old friends and expand professional network That cousin you were planning to call but it was never a good time, that old friend from university you promised to WhatsApp but never found a good reason to do so, that colleague from your previous employer with whom you got along so well but that you have not seen again after switching companies... Now it is a fantastic opportunity to reach out to them. In terms of professional network, it is a good practice to build it when it is not needed, so for when it is needed is then already too late. Explore LinkedIn and reach out to individuals or companies that might play a role in your present and future. Pick up hobbies or procrastinated activities Reading books (educational, novels, essays, etc.), watching TV shows or series that were sitting on the on the to-watch list for months, picking up hobbies to which not much attention could be paid due to the lack of time (painting, reading, playing an instrument, etc.)... All of these, and many more depending on the personal circumstances, will favor an efficient use of time - plus something will be learned. Like essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson once said "Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow". Take in introspective look at yourself... and plan ahead This is by far the most difficult exercise since it requires diving in the inner soul of each individual. Similarly to a scrum retrospective at the end of each sprint, the same principle could apply to life. At certain time intervals, it is a good practice to look back and assess whether we have managed to fulfill the goals that we have set for ourselves. Are we where we wanted to be? And more importantly, to reflect on the direction forward. Someone once said "If you do not know where you are going, any road will get you there”. Reflecting on an apparently simple question such as "What do I want out of life?" allows the introspective process to begin. This pandemic is causing mankind to put the way we live under the magnifying glass. The positive impact on the pollution levels, for example, is making mankind reflect on whether we could live in a more sustainable manner and what we would sacrifice in our life style to accomplish this. If mankind is doing this exercise, why not also us individually? Stay safe everyone. |
ion. As long as it is possible, most people are doing remote working which allows saving time on a daily basis (in the U.S., the average, one-way commute time is 26 minutes, according to the U.S. Census Bureau). How can this time be used to create additional value? The following list presents a few options. I look forward to hearing more from you in the comments section below.
