Voices
PROJECT TOOLKIT processes, internal and external communications,
Roadmap
for Rookies
For new project managers, mastering all the project
management terminology can seem like a full-time job. And
thats just the start. We asked practitioners:
What do new project managers need to know?
DO HOMEWORK
The first thing to do before diving
into the project is to know how the
company works. This can destroy
or support your successno matter how much
experience you have, youll be lost if you dont
understand how the company works. You need to
understand the organizations structure, culture,
mission and key stakeholders. During training,
ask as many questions as you can and write it all
down. Try to find out everything about internal
20 PM NETWORK JUNE 2016 WWW.PMI.ORG
and project management process. Request copies
of any and all documentation, including reports
and templates related to your job. Also, listen to
your new colleagues. They can help you identify
weaknesses in the organization that you can turn
into strengths.
If you dont do this research before beginning a
project, you can be one of the best project manag-
ers in the world, but for the company itself you
will be its worst project manager.
Fernando Remolina, PMP, project manager, Curaao
Drydock Co., Willemstad, Curaao
TALK IT THROUGH
Communication is the central pillar
holding up all project management areas.
Project managers are constantly dealing
with people involved in the project. Without effec-
tive communication with stakeholders, the project
will most likely fail. Young project managers must
first be aware of the importance of communica-
tion skills before they can start developing them.
These skills come from experiences. Those experi-
Bridge the Gap
An increasing number of organizations are looking to hire project talentbut many are having trouble finding the right
fit. Both new and old project practitioners can take advantage of this trend.

Organizations that expect to

hire more project and program
practitioners in the next year:

63%
51% of organizations 50
50% 43% of 42% of hiring 69% of organizations
say their project organizations organizations say it is recruiting project
and program teams 18% failed to fill getting more difficult talent say theyre hiring
increased in size open project to find appropriate to meet increased
during 2015. 0 management roles. project talent. business demand.
2013 2014 2015
Source: Project Management Benchmark Report 2016, Arras People

ences may or may not be successful, but the most
important thing is to keep learning and adapting
behavior accordingly.
Mohammed Iben Ayad, PMP, IT project manager, ASAL
Technologies, Ramallah, Palestine
PEOPLE FIRST
The most important aspect of a project
is the peopleboth the stakeholders and
the members of your project team. You
must know how your team members do their jobs
and what makes them productive. You must know
the stakeholders to understand their expectations
so that they can be managed. The extent to which
you understand these people, their motivations and
their stake in the project is the extent to which you
can deliver a successful outcome for your project.
Also, project management should be delivery-
focused, not process-focused. Every step of the
process does not apply to every project. A new
project manager who attempts to follow the process
to the letterfollowing every step and complet-
ing every templatemay waste valuable time with
unnecessary processes. This can negatively impact
stakeholder relations, project team experience and
delivery of the project. You must understand the
process well enough so that you know the best way
to utilize it to deliver each project as expected.
Kimberly Anderson, project manager, Trinity Health,
Livonia, Michigan, USA
SEE THE BIG PICTURE
Concentrate less on the how or what
and more on the why when it comes to
tools and practices. Many new project
managers become process- or practice-bound
instead of learning how to adapt their approach to
the needs of a given project.
Kiron D. Bondale, PMI-RMP, PMP, senior manager, TD
Bank Group, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
WALK A MILE
Put yourself in your customers shoes to
understand their thoughts, requirements,
targets and priorities. This will provide
a clear vision of your customers business needs.
Theres only one skill that can help you do this
empathy. It is the only way to understand your
customer and help your customer understand you.
Listening properly and interpreting nonverbal
communication will help build your relationship
PAY IT
with the customer. You must truly pay attention FORWARD
to their details, no matter how small. This level of What would
empathy will become invaluable when an issue or you tell
dispute needs to be settled with the customer. new project
managers?
Ruben Devesa, international banking project manager,
Share your best
Banco Sabadell, Barcelona, Spain
advice on the
PMI Project,
LIFE LESSONS Program and
Use your life experience to your advan- Portfolio
tage. I began my project management Management
LinkedIn Group.
career as a young mother, working two
jobs and attending schoolall at once. As a result,
I had to practice negotiation, risk-management
planning, scheduling and leadershipdaily. I
learned that cutting corners on planning costs you
more time in the end. Most importantly, I learned
that people depend on you to deliver what you say
you will, so you have to do your best to make that
happen every day.
Elizabeth Jones, senior IT project manager, 14 West
Administrative Services LLC, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

JUNE 2016 PM NETWORK 21