How do you become a project manager?

Si vous aimez l'autonomie, la variété, le travail en équipe, la nouveauté, apprendre et partager : devenez chef de projet. Si vous avez besoin de sécurité, de routine, de directives claires, de solitude, de perfection : ne devenez pas chef de projet.

The Behavior Design Model can help project managers navigate complexities and uncertainties. This model proves that behavior happens when Motivation (M), Ability (A), and Prompt (P) converge in a mathematical formula: B = MAP. In the context of project management, project managers must have the Motivation to overcome the challenges posed by complex and uncertain projects. They must have the Ability to manage such projects effectively, which requires a broad range of skills specially systems thinking and non-linear project management tools. Project managers must be able to identify and respond to appropriately designed Prompts that can help them manage complex and uncertain projects.

To gain relevant experience for project management, seek opportunities to lead small projects, volunteer for cross-functional teams, and pursue certifications like CAPM or PMP. Additionally, shadow experienced project managers, seek mentorship, and develop skills in communication, organization, and problem-solving. Internships, freelance work, or side projects can also provide valuable experience and exposure to project management principles.

Don’t be afraid of taking on charitable work, or even taken situation based scenarios to ‘role play’ the role from different perspective amongst colleagues, peers online groups. Varied experiences will also trump formal certification for me after the foundational knowledge is gained.

When gaining formal certification ensure that you can demonstrate how this will enhance you as an individual by showcasing your achievements. Don’t add this as a section on your career history or online profile and leave prospective opportunities asking or worse, wondering. What did this help you achieve rather than checking a box for applications.

To become a successful project manager, it is crucial to cultivate essential soft skills like communication, leadership, and adaptability. Effective communication fosters collaboration and ensures clarity in project goals. Leadership skills empower you to motivate and guide team members towards success. Adaptability enables you to navigate challenges and pivot when necessary. Soft skills are paramount as they drive team cohesion and problem-solving, crucial for project success. While certificates only demonstrate knowledge, it's soft skills that truly empower managers to lead, inspire, and deliver results.

I would encourage development of skills away from you work place as this can often provide the tools to navigate negotiation with individuals rather than situations. By this I mean, taking on small extra curricular activities such as council boards, parent teacher associations, online debates with controversial topics such as health, politics, gender and equality matters. All skills need developed, written, oral and body language. Obtaining that in a professional environment acute to your employment won’t give that.

prioritize continuous improvement by: Encouraging feedback: Foster an open culture where team members feel comfortable providing feedback and suggesting improvements. Reflecting on outcomes: Regularly review project outcomes and performance to identify areas for enhancement and celebrate successes. Implementing lessons learned: Actively apply insights gained from past projects to refine processes, optimize resource allocation, and mitigate risks. Embracing innovation: Encourage creativity and innovation within the team, exploring new tools, techniques, and methodologies to enhance project efficiency and effectiveness.

I would seek to, where possible gain functional experience as part of a team. Embrace the culture of learning by partnering up with multiple project managers of different experience levels. I’ve directly managed and mentored hundreds now, not one has been the same but the successful one are always those with career experiences who don’t think they know it all. The world is constantly evolving, therefore a project manager has to adapt constantly. Not one organisation is the same, project managers who remain in one company often have tunnel vision - experience has taught me to recognise this as as an individual you won’t change an individual and changing a culture from bottom up is impossible BUT you can take lessons from mistakes

Celebrating achievements, including team accomplishments, is crucial in the journey to becoming a PM. Recognition boosts morale, instills a sense of pride, and fosters camaraderie among team members. Acknowledging small wins fuels motivation and propels individuals toward larger milestones. It reinforces the significance of progress and encourages continued effort and dedication. By highlighting achievements, teams feel valued and inspired to pursue excellence, driving collective success in project management endeavours.

There is lot of politics , leg pulling , corruption in Solar business now , especially in big companies , you won't get recognition despite achievements , hard work , worse conditions at MW Projects Site,

Ask yourself, does this interest you? If you get a yes, you're welcome to the club. Rest - grab your spanners mate, lets get to work - what I mean is, start off by digging about the subject matter, do your R&D, identify your current role from a project perspective - then go on doing the reverse engineering till youn have a birds eye view of the current project you are part of - things will start to make sense, and I am sure your interest and hunger will lead your way.