For years, you’ve been the go-to person for scheduling meetings, tracking deliverables, and making sure nothing falls through the cracks. You’ve supported project managers, kept teams on track, and solved problems before they became disasters. But now, you’re ready for more. You’re ready to step up and lead.
Making the jump from project assistant to project manager is a big step, but it’s absolutely possible—especially when you’ve already been doing so much behind the scenes. If you’re looking to take your career to the next level, here’s how to start your journey toward project leadership.
1. Shift Your Mindset: Think Like a Project Manager
As an assistant, you’re focused on execution—making sure things get done. As a project manager, your role expands to strategic thinking. Start asking yourself:
- What are the project’s ultimate goals?
- How do different pieces fit together?
- What risks might arise, and how can they be mitigated?
Taking on this mindset now will help you transition more smoothly into leadership.
2. Own Small Projects
You don’t have to wait for a formal promotion to start managing projects. Look for opportunities to take ownership of smaller initiatives within your team. Offer to lead a task force, coordinate a new process improvement, or run a team meeting. Every leadership opportunity builds your confidence and credibility.
3. Develop Key Project Management Skills
Great project managers aren’t just good at keeping projects on track—they’re also skilled in:
- Communication: Leading meetings, presenting ideas, and getting stakeholder buy-in.
- Problem-Solving: Thinking on your feet when things don’t go as planned.
- Leadership: Motivating a team and keeping morale high under pressure.
- Time & Risk Management: Knowing how to prioritize and anticipate roadblocks.
If you’re not strong in one of these areas yet, that’s okay—just start practicing.
4. Learn the Tools and Methodologies
Most project managers use frameworks like Agile, Scrum, or Waterfall. Start familiarizing yourself with these methods and the tools that support them, like:
- Project management software: Asana, Trello, Jira, or MS Project.
- Tracking and reporting tools: Excel, Power BI, or Notion.
There are many free resources online can help you get up to speed. All of these tools will have tutorials and there will be tons of YouTube videos about getting started with project management software or using Excel for tracking and reporting projects. One of my favourite channels is: https://www.youtube.com/@davidmclachlanproject