Essential Strategies for Success
Whether you’re a new project manager or have years of experience, starting a new job can be overwhelming, and you won’t find everything you need to know in the onboarding guide. What you do need to ensure success in your new role are the right habits, mindsets, and practical strategies. So let’s dive into some of my top tips for success when starting a new job as a project manager.
Tip One: Give Yourself Time
If you feel like you’re behind, overwhelmed, or even a little lost in the first few weeks in your new role, that’s not a red flag. It’s normal. Every project manager has those moments where they question whether they’re cut out for the job. So do not panic!
The real learning happens as you go. No one expects you to master the full project – all the systems and stakeholder dynamics – in your first two weeks. But what they will notice is how you show up. They’re looking to see if you’re willing, prepared, and asking smart questions.
Confidence isn’t about knowing everything right from the get go. It’s about moving forward while you’re still learning, and accepting that you will make mistakes. If you stay engaged, keep listening, and keep showing up, before you know it, you’ll find your footing, your voice, and your rhythm.
Tip Two: Don’t Just Report Problems
One of the fastest ways to stall your momentum in a new project manager role is to fall into the habit of simply reporting what’s going wrong, without offering a path forward. Anyone can say, “We have a problem,” but great project managers go further by saying, “Here’s what’s happening, here’s what it could impact, and here’s how I think we can handle it.”
Projects don’t fail because they hit roadblocks, they fail when no one acts on them. So while you don’t need to have all the answers, you do need to call out issues, and offer solutions for how to move things forward. That mindset shift from reporter to problem-solver will help you show up as a trusted project leader.
More Tips for Success in Your New Role
I have several more essential strategies aimed at helping you succeed in your new project manager role, and I explore them in detail in my latest video. It explains:
Why genuine curiosity is crucial in a new role
How a stakeholder map links directly to your own success
Why preparation beats perfection
The importance of zeroing in on purpose
What you must be relentless in order to succeed
Why (and how) to get your hands dirty early
Follow me over to YouTube and let’s keep chatting about this!
Cheers,
Adriana Girdler, PMP | Creator of Slay Project Management™
Whatever your project needs, here are 5 ways we can help.
Webinar: Check out my free webinar to learn five things to do at the START of every project to bring it to success.
Online course: Want a practical, step-by-step guide to managing projects? Check out my SLAY Project Management online course.
Project coaching: Check out SLAY PRO.
For corporations: My SLAY Corporate Project Management Program helps companies fix project-related issues and start making organizational gains.
