Starting your first project as a manager is exciting but can also be scary. It’s exciting to make a plan come to life, but the big responsibility can be overwhelming.
One of my friends got his first job as a project manager barely a month after completing a certification from monday.com. He was really happy but also a bit worried because he felt there were so many unknowns in taking a project from the start all the way to the end. He wondered if he was up to the challenge.
Knowing it was a big job, he asked me for advice on how to deal with this new challenge. Two weeks before he started, we got into the details of project management.
In this blog post, we’re going to go over the key methods, habits, and tools that expert project managers use to make sure projects go well. These tips can help a new project manager do well in their first big project.
Dive in to learn how to implement these tips and ensure long-term success in your career as a project manager!
1. Develop Soft Skills
Soft skills are not just nice to have; they're crucial, especially for a project manager. You'll be the glue holding different departments together, which means you need to communicate clearly and effectively.
This involves more than just talking – it requires active listening. Pay attention to what others are saying and show you understand.
If something isn't clear, don't just nod along—ask questions until you get it.
And remember, a friendly, approachable attitude can make all the difference. People should feel comfortable coming to you with their issues and ideas.
Research by Harvard University, the Carnegie Foundation and the Stanford Research Center shows that 85% of job success comes soft and people skills (only 15% of comes from technical skills.)
2. Keep Learning
Getting that monday project management certification was a solid move. But it’s important to keep learning. The world of project management moves fast, and you need to keep pace.
Read the latest articles, join webinars, and follow industry news. This won't just keep you informed; it'll give you a cache of knowledge and insights you can draw on when you need to make decisions or solve problems.
81% of workers] report that upskilling or reskilling has boosted their productivity at work.
Additionally, never underestimate the value of learning from others. Find seasoned project managers and pick their brains. They've been where you are and have stories and advice that can save you from learning things the hard way.
Build relationships with them, and benefit from their insights into your role, and also their unbiased insights into your performance. People with mentors develop greater confidence and feel more empowered at work.
3. Master Project Management Tools
Knowing how to use project management tools is like having an accurate map when you're on a road trip. Without it, you don’t really know where you’re doing, or which roads to take to get to your goal.
Project management tools provide strategy tools (finding your destination) roadmap planning figuring out what it takes to get there), and agile project management boards (fueling and running your mode of transport) to help you reach your target destination.
Research estimates that 11.4% of all resources are wasted due to inferior project management alone. So beyond analogies, effective project management really is serious business for your company’s bottom line.
Tools like monday dev can help maximize your usage of resources. They help you see where everything is and what route to take next.
Before you start your job, take some time to explore these tools. If you already know which one you'll be using, dive into it. Get to know its features like the back of your hand.
Organization is your superpower. Use every tool at your disposal—calendars, to-do lists, project management software—to keep track of all the moving parts. When you're juggling multiple projects and tasks, this is what will keep you from dropping the ball. It will also set you up to handle larger and larger projects. If you rely on spreadsheets your career will hit a ceiling, becuase your tools and methodologies don’t scale beyond a certain point.
4. Master Agile Methodology
According to a digital.ai study, the adoption of Agile project management methodologies has increased from 37% to 86% for software development teams, and adoption has doubled for non-IT groups.
Agile is your best friend in software development. It's a set of principles that guide how teams work together to create something great.
What is Agile?
It is a way of creating software that involves repeated cycles of planning, creating, testing, and improving small parts of the project. It focuses on teamwork, customer input, and being able to adjust to new changes rather than sticking strictly to a set plan.
It's different from the traditional step-by-step Waterfall model because it aims to be more flexible and responsive to change, often resulting in better quality software that meets the needs of customers more closely.
Get familiar with Scrum and Kanban (the two Agile methodologies). Understand their differences and when to use each one. This knowledge will help you guide your team through projects with a clear sense of direction and purpose.
You might like to check out certifications like Agile Project Management or the Google Project Management Professional Certificate. They’ll help you fill skills gaps and set yourself up for fast career progression.
5. Be Proactive and Focus on Team Building
Your team is your most important asset. But it can also be the source of your biggest struggles.
Being proactive is key. Don't wait for problems to find you – find them first (and deal with them, no sweeping them under the rug.)
However, there will be times when things just don’t go your way. This might mean coming up with a plan B (or even a plan C) for when things don't go as expected. Your job is to keep the project moving forward, no matter what comes up.
To avoid issues or problems from snowballing and derailing your project, pay attention to what your team needs and make sure they have it. This could be resources like software or information, or it could be support and encouragement. Put their needs first, and you'll build a team that's ready to face any challenge.
Keep everyone in the loop about project progress, updates, and any challenges that come up. This ensures that everyone is moving in the same direction and can pitch in to overcome obstacles – together.
6. Take Care of Yourself
Last but not least, take care of yourself. Project management is demanding, and it can take a toll on you if you're not careful.
Workplace stress and anxiety can contribute to a significant drop in productivity. Almost 53% employees report that tiredness impacts their productivity at work.
Take breaks, find ways to relax, and make sure you're looking after your physical and mental well-being. You can't be an effective project manager if you're running on empty.
In Conclusion…
For a successful start in project management, combine a positive mindset with practical strategies and tools. Keep learning and communicate well to stay on course.
Use tools like monday.com for clarity, and agile methods for adaptability. Be proactive, foster teamwork, and look after your well-being for a strong career foundation.
Hope this helps. Good luck!
Top comments (3)
Thanks – I'm a big fan of personal/professional development and taking care of yourself. I think a mentor is super important – but it's hard to find a good one. Although I have seen a few sites that offer it - like Upwork but for finding mentors instead. I might try one out someday.
I agree! For your friend who's just starting out, it's important to understand that soft skills can make or break his career as a project manager. Encourage him to keep building on what he has learned from monday certification, and to practice clear communication and active listening. I also liked your advice on stress management. Project management is sometimes a very demanding job.
Great advice! If I ever take on a project manager role, I'll be sure to focus on soft skills and constant learning. Staying organized with PM tools will help keep things on track. And I appreciate the self-care reminder - having energy and resilience makes for better leadership. Thanks for the thoughtful tips! They'll help me thrive if I ever step into project management.