Introducing Yourself as a Project Manager

Introduction

• Introducing yourself as a project manager can be challenging.
• Adriana Girdler shares tips on how to introduce yourself to your team for the first time.
• Offers a guide on avoiding common mistakes by project managers.

Do Your Research

• Importance of knowing your team members before introductions.
• Collect background information on your team.
• Speak to your manager or project sponsor for insights about team members.
• Understand their subject matter expertise.

Email Introduction

• First contact with the team often through email.

• Sets the tone for future interactions.

• Keep the email short, sweet, and professional.

• Example email:

  Hi project team, Welcome to project ABC. I wanted to introduce myself; for those who may not know me, my name is Adriana, and I'm passionate about projects and working collaboratively. We will be having our first meeting soon, and I am excited about this project and working with you. Please look out for my meeting invite. Feel free to reach out with any questions. Sincerely, Adriana

In-Person or Virtual Introduction

• The first face-to-face or virtual meeting is crucial.

• Turn your camera on if virtual; stand at the front if in-person.

• Reinforce previous email with personal and professional details.

• Build a connection with both business and personal notes.

• Example introduction:

  Hi, everyone. Welcome to our first team meeting, how exciting! I'm your project manager, Adriana, and I'm thrilled to be here today. I've been managing projects for over 20 years, and I have some specific ways of working that I'll share, along with some expectations. On a personal note, I love playing guitar, I'm a runner, and I have an amazing family. You might hear me talk a lot about my little dog, Yoco, a French tin.

Ending Your Introduction

• Keep the ending brief and open for interaction.

• Example ending:

  Now that you know a little about me, who would like to go next?

Be Prepared for Questions

• Open the floor for questions and interactions.
• Encourage team members to share about themselves.
• Use this time to build team bonding.

Follow-Up

• Send a follow-up email to reinforce excitement and future cooperation.
• Consider individual notes and one-on-ones for deeper connection.

Final Words

• Adequately introducing yourself sets the tone for the project.
• Download guide on avoiding common mistakes from the link provided in the video.