What common mistakes do new project managers make, and how can they be avoided?

New project managers usually want to follow the textbook processes to ensure or be convinced that they are following the standards by project management bodies.
However, achieving project excellence is way beyond that especially in a complex environment where you have to do some trade-offs.

New project managers should be;

-Mentored or follow a mentor
-Shadow an experienced PM as OJT
-Be open to learning and embrace continuous learning
-Collaborate with their team members to brainstorm on project concerns
-Join community like projectmanagement.com

From experience, I would focus on the following, although there can be a lot more and it can depend on people as well:

1. Having a bossy attitude. My opinion is that mostly it is not intentional and can be because of the excitement and state of mind that the PM thinks "I am finally a manager, I can tell people to do".

2. Failure to plan ahead and having the mindset that we will deal with things as they come.

3. Not keeping the stakeholders in loop. Even if it is a small exchange that involves a team member from a different team, the PM needs to be keep the functional managers or team leads in loop to avoid confusion and sour relationships.

4. Not actively listening to the team and making decisions on one's own.

Personally, what helped me is that I allowed myself to learn from the mistakes. I never resisted to admit that I am wrong. Maybe in some situations it wasn't spontaneous but I did admit it later. As a PM, I feel we always need to allow ourselves to learn and even the most experienced people can make mistakes. It all depends on our attitude on whether we are ready to keep improving no matter what.

New project managers often face several challenges, especially when it comes to integrating team members with stakeholders through emotional intelligence. Here are some common mistakes they make:

1. Enhance Communication: Ensure clear, open dialogue with team and stakeholders through active listening and feedback.

2. Develop Emotional Intelligence: Be empathetic and aware of emotions to foster trust and collaboration.

3. Engage Stakeholders: Involve them early in planning and decision-making to ensure support and alignment.

4. Resolve Conflicts Promptly: Address issues constructively to maintain team cohesion.

5. Leverage Team Knowledge: Encourage knowledge sharing to enhance problem-solving and project value.

By focusing on emotional intelligence and fostering strong relationships among team members and stakeholders, new project managers can create a more cohesive and effective project environment. This approach not only helps in solving project issues but also maximizes the earned value by leveraging the collective knowledge and insights of the group.

A common mistake I made as a new project manager was trying to please all stakeholders without understanding organizational politics and processes. This led to overpromising and misaligned priorities. To avoid this, I recommend take the time to learn the organization’s dynamics, set clear boundaries, and focus on transparent communication to manage expectations effectively.