New Project Manager - 5 Tips for a Good Start

Lidia N., Project Management Consultant at MetaPM, shares her 5 tips for a good start as a new Project Manager. Originally shared on Lidia's LinkedIn page, June 19, 2023.

Hi, I'm Lidia, a Project Management Consultant with MetaPM since September 2021. MetaPM was founded in 2006 by a group of management experts with a vision to do project consulting in the best way possible. In 2022, they joined MI-GSO | PCUBED, a world-leading PMO & Project Management Consulting group.

My current role as a Project Officer involves working closely with our key client to support the delivery of a complex program of work for better outcomes for the staff and community.

My day-to-day activities involve governance, reporting, managing stakeholders, ensuring progress to plan, coordinating minutes and actions, change and communications, and mitigating risks and issues.

A Little Bit About Me

My professional journey started as a Software Developer in the Banking and Finance industry. However, during that time, I realised I wanted to delve deeper into gathering and analysing business requirements that drive projects.

An opportunity arose to transition to Technical Writing, which was a great experience for me because I had to carefully consider the end-user experience when writing technical artefacts, and this gave me an overall understanding of the Project Management

Lifecycle phases when monitoring a project from its beginning to its end.
These combined experiences gave me the knowledge and skills to want to pursue a career in projects and project management, which then led me to take on IT-related Project Coordination, Project Management and PMO roles.

What I Like Most About My Position

I thrive on structure, so following a schedule and having an organised plan within a project is where it's at—you know what your day will be like tomorrow, for the next week or month, and you can schedule your project activities accordingly.

It's knowing that you have a goal. You've set a date. Now you've got to bring everyone to that date. We catch up weekly to discuss if we are on track or if the date needs to be shifted as issues may arise.

I find completed 'To-Do' lists highly satisfying. Once done, I cross it off my list and move on to the next priority task. It's that feeling of completion and achievement that I enjoy the most.

Challenges

As with any other profession, challenges are inevitable and I view them as opportunities for growth. One for me is managing stakeholders at different levels and tailoring my communication to deliver information effectively and in a timely manner.

Additionally, most programs are complex and have concurrent and competing priorities requiring innovative program management methods to manage dependencies and ensure timely and quality delivery. This is where I aim to add most value as a project management consultant, blending the best of methodologies and tools to achieve outcomes.

You also have to be mindful of stakeholder workloads. People are often busy, and this is where I step in. If there is a way in which I can help them complete project activities, then I will. It leads to tasks being crossed off and a project that stays on schedule. So it’s good to be hands-on when managing projects and being a team player.

Just Getting Started? Here are my 5 Tips

1. Listen and Engage - Communication is key!

Always be conscious that you can’t learn if you don’t listen. Listening builds relationships. From colleagues to clients, listen to hear and not to speak. Then use what you have learnt to engage with your team and your stakeholders in ways that will drive your project’s success.

Active listening enhances your ability to understand better and makes you a better communicator.

2. Be a Problem-Solver

Often junior and even senior project managers can get lost in the focus of "let's get it started". My tip is to ensure you spend time identifying and analysing dependencies and risks. Think of it as pre-emptive problem-solving. If something does cause the project to falter, question the why-what-where-and-when.

Remember, it's ok to make mistakes. That's how we learn. We then apply what we learn next time through Lessons Learned.

3. Be a Team Player

Part of being a team player means being bold and asking for help and also offering to help when needed to achieve project goals. Being pre-emptive and transparent is a quality that will serve you well as a new project manager.

4. Learn How to Read People

Sometimes the human body speaks louder than the words it projects. For instance, learning to identify and understand the emotions of others can help you read a room and determine how to steer the conversation and ultimately control the effectiveness of a meeting.

5. Get Certified

Getting relevant credentials offers your employer solid proof that you’ve received the necessary education, training, and knowledge to perform the job you were hired for; it essentially adds to your value, keeps you up to date with the latest technologies and methodologies and builds your confidence in the workforce. So go for it!

A Career with MetaPM

If you're thinking of or just getting started as a project manager, MetaPM, as a dynamic and progressive company, is a great place to start. The staff are highly skilled and professional. Upskilling and career development is encouraged with the support of training courses. Overall, it's just a fun environment with great people.

I highly recommend connecting with MetaPM today if you gravitate towards this type of work.