How You Grow from a Project Manager to a Project Leader
A project manager with good leadership skills achieves results more quickly and effectively within projects. At GHYSELS, we not only connect project managers with multinationals and scale-ups but also coach them on the job to become even better leaders. This approach is unique in the recruiting world. However, we believe that personal growth, initiating positive change, and job satisfaction go hand in hand. In this blog, we'll share how you can benefit from this.
The First Step Toward Positive Change
Feeling like a number. Losing energy because of endless meetings. Dealing with issues beyond your control, preventing you from showcasing your best self. Not connecting with the manager or key stakeholders. When you, as a project manager, don't feel in the right place, you can do two things: bury your head in the sand and seek happiness outside working hours or take action to improve your situation.
If you opt for the latter, finding a challenge where you fit well, we can assist you. Because when you can be the best version of yourself at work, you go home energized. Consequently, you have more energy for your family, relationships, friends, sports, and hobbies.
Helping project managers experience more job satisfaction and become better at their work is one of the reasons why we started GHYSELS recruitment. Founder and owner Bart Ghysels say, "I have built up years of experience in the recruitment field, especially within the technical industry, and for scale-up organizations and multinationals such as Philips and ASML. The project managers with leadership skills that I now connect with organizations always bring about a positive change. This not only transforms organizations for the better but also enhances the (work) happiness of the professionals I recruit."
Becoming Even Better through Coaching and Training
How can I successfully complete my projects in a short time? If you're a junior, medior, or senior project manager, this question should occupy your mind every day. And this is precisely the growth mindset of professionals in our network, the ones who go the furthest. Because the way you view the world determines your effectiveness and growth, both for yourself and for the team and organization in which you operate.
Every project and every workday are new opportunities to improve. We believe that everyone can benefit from some support to bring out the best in themselves. That's why we help the project managers we place become even better at their job. Specifically, this means that every project manager is coached for six months (a total of 10 hours) after starting by a seasoned heavyweight. They provide periodic advice, and they are always available for ad-hoc questions. We deliberately do not work with psychologist-coaches but with experienced knowledge carriers from the same business context. This way, we help project managers grow into project leaders, achieving the best results together.
Growing from Project Manager to Project Leader
What makes someone a good project manager? Is it the methodology used, such as Agile, waterfall, or Prince2? Is it about the level at which you operate, operational, tactical, or strategic?
Bart says, "We believe that, regardless of experience or chosen methodology, good project management stands or falls with good leadership. Project leaders who deliver quickly, even in complex organizations, are much needed and sought after."
How do you recognize a good project leader? Bart explains, "We select project managers based on their skills in leading a team. Does someone have a strong vision? Are you able to set clear boundaries, no matter how powerful the stakeholders and project sponsors are? How flexible are you? Can you make difficult decisions when there is a problem? Do you have a clear view of actual progress and ensure structural reporting of quality? Can you ensure that all parties adhere to the agreed rules (including scope)? These are the characteristics of a good project leader."
Your Personal Roadmap and Career Advice
Are you a project manager who, like us, considers personal growth and job satisfaction very important? Do you want to become an even better leader? Then we would like to get in touch with you. Finding the perfect project for you starts with knowing who you are. We conduct a thorough intake where we look at your experience and competencies and pay extensive attention to your style, ambitions, desired roles, and business context. We are constantly in touch with various organizations, from scale-ups to multinationals and from R&D to industrialization. And we can introduce you there.
If you're currently in the right place but want to improve in your field, or if you could use a sparring partner to determine the next step, we would still like to get in touch with you. We will advise you on a smart next step and, together with you, create a personal roadmap for growth.
Come by, call, or contact us, or send us a message via LinkedIn.
About GHYSELS
GHYSELS brings organizations and project managers together. From Scale-up to Multinational and from R&D to Industrialization. And how. We ensure a perfect fit between the actual needs of an organization at the strategic, tactical, or operational level and an optimal challenge for the project manager.
About Bart Ghysels
Bart (47) is originally from Belgium but has lived in the Netherlands all his life. In his free time, he enjoys the Burgundian life, and personal development is also a recurring theme in his life. He is also sporty: he loves windsurfing and snowboarding. In the past, he played a lot of football but had to stop due to a torn cruciate ligament. Additionally, he is the area director of Toastmasters, a global organization that helps you become better at presenting messages to an audience on stage. He is also a member of Groeiclub and the Covey club, where growth as an entrepreneur and also privately takes center stage.
