Project Management

Career Path Planning

Motivating is an immediate activity of the project manager, but all employees and managers should be encouraged to develop longer range aspirations, as well. The project manager should help plan, with each individual, the tasks from this project that can be used to further his or her career. 

The project manager should discuss goals and career paths at the beginning of the project and at least annually during performance reviews after that. The discussion should include a frank assessment of current perceptions of the individual's verbal, organizational, and professional skills, as well as helping the person plan courses, assignments, or opportunities to improve his or her performance. There should be direct ties from performance to rewards. Any time an individual does something significant enough to be mentioned on an appraisal, he or she should be told and either praised or counseled to change.