Learning to ride a bike can be a challenging experience. You may have had someone hold the seat steady while you pedaled, then, let go and watched you wobble, and maybe even fall off. But with persistence, practice, and guidance, eventually, it becomes second nature.
Promoting a Project Manager to a Project Executive role is similar to learning to ride a bike, it can be challenging but with the right support, guidance, and dedication it can be achieved.
As the President of your construction company, you understand the importance of supporting a smooth transition for your newly promoted Project Executive. This post will guide you through the challenges they may face and provide solutions to support their success.
In this post, we will cover three important areas that are crucial for a new Project Executive to navigate:
- Balancing new and old responsibilities
- Managing new people and teams
- Managing a new level of complexity.
Balancing New and Old Responsibilities
One of the biggest challenges that a new Project Executive will face is balancing their new responsibilities of managing and leading teams with their old responsibilities of managing individual projects. The Project Executive will need to shift focus from the details of one project to the big picture of multiple projects. This can be challenging, as it requires them to have a broader understanding of the organization and its goals, as well as the ability to think strategically.
Managing New People and Teams
Another challenge that a new Project Executive will face is managing new people and teams who may have different working styles and personalities. This can be challenging, as it requires them to adapt their leadership style to suit the needs of the team. Additionally, they will need to be able to effectively communicate and delegate tasks to the team members in order to achieve the project’s goals.
Managing a New Level of Complexity
They will also be managing a new level of complexity, as they will be responsible for multiple projects at once. This can be challenging, as it requires you to have a holistic view of all the projects and to make strategic decisions that will impact the entire organization. Construction involves multiple stakeholders such as owners, architects, engineers, and contractors, each with their own objectives and constraints.
Balancing the competing demands of these stakeholders and ensuring the successful completion of the project is a complex task that requires a high degree of strategic thinking and decision-making.
After you have promoted someone, it’s tempting to hope they succeed and move onto other tasks, but investing time in their development will ultimately lead to better results for the company.
One solution to navigate the challenges of a new leadership role is hiring an executive coach who is an expert in the construction industry. An executive coach can provide an outside, non-biased sounding board, a confidential place to vent, and an extra layer of accountability for the new leader. This will not only benefit the new leader but also the entire organization.
In conclusion, just like learning to ride a bike is challenging, so it’s challenging for promoted leaders to adjust to their new positions. Taking on a new leadership role in the construction industry can be challenging, but with the right support, guidance and dedication, it can be achieved.
If you’re curious about how I can assist your company as an executive coach, I’d be happy to chat with you.
Click this link to view my calendar and book a short call at a time that works for you.
During our call, we can discuss your specific needs and determine if there is a good fit for both of us. I look forward to hearing from you!
