5 Things You’ll Regret About a Career in Project Controls (and How to Overcome Them)
TL;DR – A career in project controls can be a rewarding experience. However, many professionals can experience regrets due to certain mistakes and issues that they encountered in their work. To have the most fulfilling project controls career, you need to focus on your real priorities, put people first, build effective processes, network with others, and develop a unique career path.
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As a project controls professional, I've witnessed the highs, lows, triumphs, and setbacks that come with this dynamic field. It's a realm where precision and organization intersect with ever-evolving challenges and the constant pursuit of project success. Through my own experiences, I've come to realize that there are aspects of a career in project controls that can ultimately lead to challenges and regret if you aren’t careful. Here are five problems project control professionals should watch out for and how to overcome them.
1. Superhuman Focus Can Make You Forget Your Real Priorities
When working on a project, it’s easy to become laser-focused on the task at hand and constantly obsess over the various minor details. Unfortunately, as you put in the long hours, you may lose sight of the real important things in life – your family, children, friends, and your health and wellbeing. While a career in project controls will require your dedication and focus, don’t lose sight of the real meaning behind why you have this career. Your family won’t remember any of the projects you worked on; they will only remember the times you weren’t there.
Looking back, there were several occasions when I missed important events, vacations, or simply going home on time. Hindsight is 20/20, but I realize now that none of those extra hours actually mattered. The sooner you realize this, the more control you will have over setting boundaries between work and life.
2. You’ll Put the Project First and Not Consider the People Involved
As a project manager or projects control professional, it’s your responsibility to make sure that the project is completed as efficiently and effectively as possible. Unfortunately, the downside is that we often form tunnel vision as we select methods and processes that hinder or cause challenges for the people involved from workers to the client to other stakeholders.
One valuable lesson I’ve learned is to always consider the people who are impacted when making decisions. Multiple times, I’ve come to regret rushing solutions or failing to take individuals into account when attempting to solve a problem. For example, not getting feedback from the team who is executing the work or making assumptions about what your client wants based on prior projects. Instead, embracing a people-centric approach will help avoid frustrations from stakeholders and ensure that everyone is supportive and engaged in the project.
3. Not Networking or Collaborating Enough with Other Project Professionals
It’s too easy to fall into the groove of project controls. You spend so much time in your project that you fail to look up and embrace the greater network within project management. In my experience, the most cherished memories often arise from unexpected collaborations and venturing beyond traditional project controls. These interactions are critical if you want to continue learning, create unique experiences, and stay up to date with the latest industry trends and best practices.
One remarkable experience involved me joining forces with like-minded individuals to establish a diverse team focused on Computer Vision in Construction. At the time, this was a daring idea, but quickly evolved into a mini startup and eventually a full-fledged team. Without getting outside, my project controls bubble, this would never have been possible. So, get out there and explore some of the less traveled paths in the industry.
4. You’ll Neglect Not Refining and Optimizing Your Process
At some point in my career, it dawned on me that approximately 80% of projects and project controls involve repetitive and predictable steps and processes. This is a huge opportunity to develop and streamline systems to create massive time savings.
Many project control professionals are so focused on the projects themselves that they lose sight of continuously improving the process by solving challenges once and benefiting from compounded savings over time. This additional time can reduce stress and allow for more careful and methodical work on your projects enhancing the outcome. The key is to understand and focus on the long term gain.
5. Following a Linear Career Trajectory
Many professionals miss opportunities in their career because they assume that everything has to be completed in a sequential or traditional order. The problem is that this linear mindset fixates on reaching specific milestones instead of exploring alternative paths.
By expanding your career horizons, you can open the door to a wide range of career options to keep growing and advancing such as seeking a promotion (Option B-1). exploring different roles in your company that could provide you with a well-rounded experience (Option B-2), pursuing external opportunities such as participating in industry groups or events (Option B-3), or investing in additional training (Option B-4). This approach works because it helps prevent you from building any one moment to unhealthy levels and will safeguard you from disappointment when setbacks occur since you are aware of other options to try a new angle.
As you reflect on these untapped possibilities and invaluable lessons, remember that a career in project controls is not merely a job, but a canvas on which you can paint a remarkable professional journey. Embrace the power of focusing on what truly matters, forging meaningful connections, challenging the norm, and designing your own path. In the world of project controls, the possibilities are endless.
