Some people have asked me why I put “aspiring project manager” in my byline. The reason is simple: while I’m not a project manager by job title, I do manage a lot of projects, and would like to develop further in this field. Planning, organising, stakeholder management, it was never what I wanted to do when I grew up, but it’s what I’ve found myself doing and enjoy.

Perhaps “accidental project manager” would be a better title. Like many of my colleagues, I’ve never had any project training, but constantly work on projects as part of my current role. Sometimes these projects are very small (source and organise IPAF 3A + 3B training for one person) (and first find out what IPAF actually is), sometimes they are very large (organise customer service training for over a hundred frontline workers). Cue challenge, or as some more accurately call it: bewilderment and panic.

After well over a year in my current role, however, I’ve learned enough to think I’m doing a fairly good job of it, and even have some insights to share.

A good starting point is to learn from the best. Even if you don’t want to commit to a pricey project management course with a mysterious acronym for a name, nothing is stopping you from learning informally. Rather than googling your way out of your problems, consider visiting your local library. Chances are they will have a decent careers and business section. The first book on project management I ever read was Project Management for Dummies, which while basic has many good suggestions. Before, I didn’t know what to do when I was given limited information, now I know how to write a project plan when all I have to go on is an idea someone came up with in the shower that morning.

Use the tools of the trade. There are many good, and often free, software programs out there to help you organise your workload, especially if you tend to work on multiple projects at a time. Tools like Trello or Smartsheet make light work of organising data streams and work produced by different collaborators. But even if you’re not tech-savvy, think about what you can do to make your life easier. My manager and I have created flowcharts to document standard processes in our team. This does not only help us, but also people who work with us, or colleagues who cover for us when either of us is away.

An important final point: learn to push back. Some people want the impossible. In that case, set out what options they have and ask them to choose which one they wish to go ahead with. Don’t be bullied into making a decision yourself if that’s way above your pay grade. By gently placing responsibility where it belongs, and keeping the boundaries of your job role clear, you can always demonstrate that you’ve done what you’ve been asked to do when things, inevitably, go wrong.

Do I mean to say that project work is always frustrating and unpleasant? No, although it can be. Especially if you’re in my type of position (not a head of anything, but a person people turn to if they struggle to think things through by themselves), you can make a real difference by helping people see the impact of their decisions. You can also bring people together to find the best possible solution to tricky problems. When project work fails, it’s perplexing, but when it goes well, it’s great.

Image my own @thecococatani