Roadmap
for Rookies
For new project managers, mastering all the project
management terminology can seem like a full-time job. And
that’s 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 success—no matter how much
experience you have, you’ll be lost if you don’t
understand how the company works. You need to
understand the organization’s 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
processes, internal and external communications,
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 don’t do this research before beginning a
project, you can be one of the best project managers in the world, but for the company itself you
will be its worst project manager.”
—Fernando Remolina, PMP, project manager, Curaçao
Drydock Co., Willemstad, Curaçao
TALK I T THROUGH
Communication is the central pillar holding up all project management areas. Project managers are constantly dealing
with people involved in the project. Without effective communication with stakeholders, the project
will most likely fail. Young project managers must
first be aware of the importance of communication skills before they can start developing them.
These skills come from experiences. Those experi-
Voices
PROJECT TOOLKIT
