Swimming aid for the first projects

Would you let your child swim alone in the open sea after a first swimming course?

Why then in project management? After project management training, many project managers are thrown in at the deep end and left on their own for their first “real” project. Some actually make it and, with a lot of commitment, improvisation and detours, get the project off the ground to some extent. But many fail, the project gets out of hand, the project's success becomes a distant prospect and a third party has to rescue the project. The damage is great, the learning effect small, both in the organization and for those involved. For them, motivation is at rock bottom and career opportunities are ruined.

But getting started in project management could be so easy:

• Step-by-step experience
  Start small and then gradually take on larger projects. The problem should initially have a reduced level of complexity. Free swimming in a swimming pool instead of the open sea. This allows the project leader to concentrate on putting what he/she has learned into practice, celebrating successes and gradually tackling larger problems. In this way, he/she can build up his/her own experience in order to face the challenges of the open sea at some point.
• Guided application and trial and error
  Support from an experienced project coach, the “swimming coach”. Professional coaching supports the project manager methodically, technically and socially. This allows difficulties to be recognized and adjustments to be implemented immediately, which significantly increases the learning and project success. Coaching may take place once a week, which still gives the project manager a lot of freedom to experiment and gain their own experience. Ideally, the project coach should not be the project manager's own boss, who also carries out the assessment at the end of the year, but a specialist from outside the department or company who can support the project manager in a neutral, open and goal-oriented manner.

I would be happy to show you, based on your needs, how and to what extent such project coaching can be carried out in your company.