Learning Objectives

• Quickly assess a new or on-going project.
• Prepare a simple roadmap for taking over as a new project manager.
• Establish and maintain their credibility as an effective project manager.

That great day has finally come. After working faithfully for months or even years, you are finally getting your chance to take on a project manager (PM) job. You may have eagerly sought this opportunity or it may have come quite unexpectedly. In either case, you are about to assume a leadership role for both the project and the people working on it. The question on your mind (as well as everyone else's) is what do you do now that you are in charge. To use the classic answer: “it depends.”

Every project is unique, so what you should do depends on where the project stands when you take over and what it most needs to move forward to achieve successful outcomes. Your task, should you choose to accept it (and you'd better if you are the new PM!), is to sort through the complexities and ambiguities of the current situation to provide a clear plan and direction to your project team. This session will provide a roadmap of how that is done.