As a project leader, you are expected to deliver successful outcomes, manage diverse stakeholders, and foster a collaborative team culture. But do you have the skills and competencies to do all that effectively? If you want to grow as a project leader, you need to identify and address the gaps in your project leadership abilities. Here are some tips on how to do that.
The first step to closing your project leadership gaps is to understand your current level of performance and potential areas of improvement. You can use various tools and methods to assess your strengths and weaknesses, such as self-evaluation, feedback surveys, 360-degree reviews, or personality tests. The key is to be honest and objective about your skills, knowledge, and behaviors, and to seek input from others who can offer different perspectives.
Once you have identified your project leadership gaps, you need to set specific and realistic goals to address them. For example, if you want to improve your communication skills, you can set a goal to deliver more clear and concise messages, to listen more actively, or to adapt your style to different audiences. Your goals should be SMART: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. This will help you track your progress and evaluate your results.
Another way to close your project leadership gaps is to seek mentorship and coaching from someone who has more experience and expertise in the areas you want to develop. A mentor or a coach can provide you with guidance, feedback, support, and accountability, and help you overcome challenges and learn from mistakes. You can find a mentor or a coach within your organization, your network, or your professional community, or you can hire one from an external source.
You can also learn from other project leaders who have demonstrated excellence and success in their roles. You can observe how they handle different situations, what strategies and techniques they use, and what lessons they have learned. You can also ask them questions, seek their advice, or request their feedback. You can learn from others by attending events, webinars, podcasts, or online courses, by reading books, blogs, or articles, or by joining forums, groups, or communities.
Finally, the best way to close your project leadership gaps is to practice and apply what you have learned. You need to put your new skills, knowledge, and behaviors into action in your real projects, and reflect on your outcomes and feedback. You also need to be open to change, experimentation, and innovation, and to embrace challenges and opportunities as learning experiences. You can practice and apply your project leadership skills by taking on new or stretch assignments, by volunteering for different roles or tasks, or by leading or participating in cross-functional or collaborative projects.
Being your authentic self! While it is encouraged to seek advice and even get a coach/mentor, remembering that always being you, will put you in the correct situations for your personal growth. The way you approach your clients, staff and coworkers you will always be remember as it being a genuine member of the team.