You’re a project leader. How can you tell if you’re doing a good job?

1 Set clear goals

The first step to evaluate your project leadership is to define what success looks like for you and your stakeholders. You need to have SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound) goals that align with the project scope, budget, and quality standards. You also need to communicate these goals to your team and ensure they understand their roles and expectations. By setting clear goals, you can track your progress and adjust your plans as needed.

2 Solicit feedback

Another way to gauge your project leadership is to ask for feedback from your team, clients, sponsors, and peers. Feedback can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, as well as uncover any issues or risks that may affect the project. You can use various methods to solicit feedback, such as surveys, interviews, focus groups, or performance reviews. You should also be open to receiving constructive criticism and act on it to improve your performance.

3 Monitor metrics

Metrics are quantifiable indicators that measure the performance of your project and your team. You can use metrics to evaluate how well you are meeting your goals, managing your resources, and delivering value to your stakeholders. Some common metrics that project leaders use are schedule variance, cost variance, scope creep, customer satisfaction, and team engagement. You should monitor these metrics regularly and report them to your stakeholders. You should also use metrics to identify and resolve any problems or deviations from the plan.

4 Reflect on lessons learned

One of the most important aspects of project leadership is learning from your experiences and applying them to future projects. You should conduct a lessons learned session at the end of each project or phase, where you and your team review what went well and what didn't, and document the key findings and recommendations. You should also share your lessons learned with other project leaders and stakeholders, and incorporate them into your best practices and standards.

5 Develop yourself

Finally, you should always seek opportunities to develop your project leadership skills and competencies. You can do this by taking courses, reading books, attending seminars, joining professional networks, or finding a mentor or coach. You should also update your resume and portfolio with your achievements and credentials. By developing yourself, you can enhance your knowledge, confidence, and credibility as a project leader.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?