Maybe you have been used to being part of a team. However, you have been promoted to the position of project manager. Ideally, undertaking such a duty for the first time presents various challenges. Initially, you were used to following instructions from the team leader. Now that you are the one expected to give instructions, you may feel nervous. According to experts from cheap essay writing service CustomEssayOrder, many individuals in the team are looking up to you to offer them leadership. The success of a project depends on how well you manage the people involved. While being a new project manager is a challenging task, the following tips will assist you to become effective in your new post.
Learn to Listen
Listening is an essential skill that successful project managers must possess to succeed. Listening is not an easy skill to develop. This is because you also have an opinion on the way a particular thing should be done. Your team members may be looking at the same thing from another perspective. Listening becomes critical in enabling you to understand the point of view of the other team members.
People want to feel that their leader values their contribution to the team. One of the ways you can demonstrate this is by listening to the issues they raise. You have to demonstrate a keen interest in what others are telling you. Remember, the team members can give you insights on how to handle an issue. You need to be able to listen to what the team members think about a particular matter.
Additionally, listening will enable you to understand the issues facing the team. When team members are facing a particular challenge, they will not be in a position to perform as expected. Listening will allow you to identify some of the challenges that your members are facing. You will then take the necessary steps to address the issues raised.
While you are the ultimate decision-maker, try to listen to all opinions. Of course, this does not mean that you should allow yourself to be manipulated. Instead, listening will empower you to choose the most appropriate alternative for an issue facing your team.
Excellent Communication
In communication, individuals pass meanings from one point to another. Without effective communication in a team, it will be impossible to progress. Communication is essential for ensuring the flow of information in a team. The following communication tips are going to assist you to become a better project manager.
- Be careful with non-verbal communication. Words make a small percentage of the message conveyed, which makes non-verbal communication important. Body language is an effective tool for communication. You should use your body language to enhance your verbal communication. For instance, maintain eye contact, use tonal variation and hand gestures to enhance your communication.
- Be concise. If possible, use a few words to convey your message. The use of excessive words may cause your listener to lose interest in you. Before you communicate with the team members, take some time and give thought to what you want to convey. The move will assist you to avoid confusion and rambling.
- Be confident. You are not the project manager hence people want to see the confidence in you. Confidence will make your message more credible when communicating with the team members. When you sound confident, more members will believe in your message.
- Remain empathetic. In your communication, ensure that you understand and share the feelings of others. Even where you do not agree with a member of the team on a particular issue, show respect for their views.
- Be open to feedback. As a manager, you need to get feedback from your team members. Be open to both positive and negative feedback.
Become an Expert in Everything
The rest of the team members are looking up to you. As a result, you cannot afford to be ignorant about issues regarding your functions. The team members expect you to give them a sense of direction. Some may have problems in particular areas and they expect that you can assist them. You have to be an expert in all areas involved in your areas. Being an expert in everything is one tip for success you need to learn as a project manager.
Allan Smith from a fast-growing coursework writing service says: “You should be an expert in any tools used. For instance, project management will require the use of project management software and other tools to facilitate collaboration.” As the project manager, the team members expect that you are efficient in the use of such tools. Given that you are new to this position, you may have challenges using some of these tools. In such a case, take time and do your homework well. If need be, you can go ahead and get some training. You should understand how such tools work so that you can teach others. You will gain respect if the team members discover they can consult you when they experience trouble with the tools. In essence, learn everything that concerns your post.
However, do not pretend that you know everything on the first day. You will take the time to understand how things work. You may find that there is an area in your new position that you do not know how to handle it. Do not be shy to ask questions. This will not lower you in the eyes of your team members. While you should know everything, do not be afraid to ask for help where you do not know.
Be Problem Solver and a Leader
Being a problem solver and a leader is one of the project management tips you need to know. The new position will come with a set of challenges. You might feel uneasy since you are uncertain how things will be. At the same time, the rest of the team members expect you to address challenges arising in the team. Such pressure can make you uncomfortable. However, do not panic because of problems. You have been given a new position so that can solve problems. The best approach in such tough situations is training your mind to approach every challenge with confidence. Have the guts to address every issue that emanates in the team. No single problem has no solution. Hence, do not allow issues to put you down. Face the problems in the team and you will be surprised at your ability to solve problems.
At the same time, demonstrate leadership in every challenge. When things go wrong, be ready to take responsibility as the leader and formulate the way forward. When people see leadership in your especially during a crisis, they will be inclined to follow you. You will gain more respect if you stand firm during a difficult situation.
Find a Mentor
You are not the first one to occupy that position. There are others who have gone ahead of you. Besides, you do not have experience in what it takes to be in the position of a project manager. If you are not careful, your lack of experience may work against you. You could make decisions that have adverse effects on the progress of the team.
Acknowledge that you need someone who has more experience to mentor you. You will not go far without a mentor. Be humble enough to accept that you need help.
Examples of mentors include:
- A former boss. This can be an individual who has occupied the position you have in the past. Such a person will provide you with a project manager checklist in order to make your transition to the new position smooth.
- A colleague. Funding a colleague who has managed projects in the same organization will be crucial. Such a person knows how the organization operates and will offer you a few tips on how to do your work.
- A project management expert. You may not find someone inside the organization to mentor you. In such a case, you can consult the services of a project management consultant. The expert will allow you to things that you would have otherwise never known if you tried to figure out everything on your own.
Be Flexible and accept Change
A project may start well. However, as it progresses, issues that you did not anticipate may arise. Do not insist on applying the same approaches you have been using. It is important in such an instance to be flexible and allow change to occur. Accepting change is one of the things you will learn on how to be a better project manager. You will not succeed if you are the kind of individual who is rigid.
When a certain course does not work, inform your team members of the need to change to something else. Be willing to inform the members that the current approach cannot work hence the need to reconfigure tasks. There is nothing wrong with changing to an alternative way while a project is in progress.
When you realize that you took the team on a wrong track, admit that it was your fault. This will not demonstrate that you are weak; instead, it will be a sign of strength, which will inspire them to work harder.
Conclusively, you should not panic because of the new position as the project manager. You will not always be new to the position. The way you conduct yourself at the initial stages of the job will determine how the team members will deal with you. Indeed, being in such a new position can be demanding which may put more pressure on you. However, this should not be the case. The tips we have discussed here have assisted many new project managers. Furthermore, do not forget to keep your resume updated. Opportunities keep on coming up for individuals in your position. Resume That Works would assist you to have a professional resume. Do not struggle to update your resume given that you can hire a professional writer to do that for you. Take advantage of the service to display your new achievement. Congratulations on the new position and all the best.