Navigating the project managers career crossroads

Experienced project managers often find themselves at a career crossroads. After about a decade or more of delivering successful projects, many are asking: "What's next?" This deserves careful consideration, as it can define not just individual careers but your overall satisfaction in work and life in the future.

The irony isn't lost on project managers. We're experts at helping organisations navigate complex change, yet we often struggle with planning the change we want specifically for ourselves.

My project management career crossroads

I know this crossroads personally all too well. After fourteen years of delivering large strategy and transformation programmes, I found myself stuck. Despite having a successful career and an upward trajectory, I was feeling disconnected from the work that once energised me. Like a lot of people, the pandemic gave me a lot of time to reflect, and at that time I decided a change in industry and subject matter was the refresh I needed, moving from transformation team in professional services to a data and analytics team in financial services. While the change of scenery was fantastic and I learned loads, I knew deep down this change wasn’t enough.

I felt like I was hitting a brick wall and going nowhere. So, I worked with a coach which helped me realise my core passion was in helping people. Project management allowed me to do this every day, but it wasn’t keeping this spark alive. This led me to transition into coaching, helping project managers who find themselves in the same position and want to figure out the next steps in their career.

My own journey and working with project managers taught me that a career crossroads, while daunting, often lead to our most fulfilling professional chapters.

Why are project managers feeling stuck?

Disruption in the profession

Remember when the project management career path seemed straightforward? Project Coordinator → Project Manager → Program Manager → Portfolio Manager. While these roles are still a key part of the profession, the responsibilities within the roles are being disrupted for several reasons:

Artificial intelligence and automation are reshaping our day-to-day responsibilities.
Demand for skills is shifting toward soft skills and strategic thinking.
Remote work has created global opportunities but intensified competition.
New methodologies and hybrid approaches are creating specialised career paths.

Feeling disconnected

Think back to your early days in project management. Remember that excitement? Every day brought new challenges and learning opportunities. You were growing, asking questions and feeling energised by each new project.

Now? The spark has dimmed, and as a result, project managers are considering their many options:

Moving to a more senior position with greater responsibilities.
Pivoting into specialised areas like digital transformation or agile coaching.
Making a complete career change outside of project management.

Work-life harmony

While early-career enthusiasm might have driven you to prioritise work above all else, as time moves on, life brings different priorities. There is no magic solution which will eradicate the potential for burnout, and work-life balance does not exist. It’s about work-life harmony, how both areas can co-exist and complement one another.

Many are considering:

How will my career choices impact my life?
What personal goals do I want to achieve outside of my career?
What areas of your life need more attention?

What can you do?

For those standing at this career crossroads, I recommend the following three tips:

Conduct an audit of your project management career to identify which areas you are satisfied or unsatisfied with. I've created a Project Management Career Audit tool that provides personalised insights and practical tips across key areas including career direction, personal growth and wellbeing. This assessment will help you prioritise areas which need your attention and determine your next steps.
Take a week to track your energy from daily activities as a project manager. At the end of each day, write down and rate tasks from 1-5 based on how energised or drained you felt doing them. This project manager energy tracker template will help you track this. You might be surprised – perhaps stakeholder workshops energise you while budget tracking depletes you, or vice versa. This simple practice helped me identify which aspects of project management truly lit me up. Look for patterns in your high-energy activities; they often point to where your career path should lead.
Seek support from your network within the project management community, mentors, coaches, your family and friends. They may be able to share their knowledge and provide direction from their experience. Sharing your goals with these people can help you build accountability to help you move closer to your goal.

Looking Ahead

As project managers, we know from experience that transformation brings uncertainty, but also unprecedented opportunities. You can craft a unique journey which leverages your experience while embracing new challenges. Whether you choose to climb higher in traditional project management, specialise in an emerging area, or pivot to something entirely new, make it a conscious choice that aligns with both your professional aspirations and personal fulfillment.