Are you chief-of-party material?

The responsibilities and challenges of managing a large project aren’t for everyone. But leading a team isn’t an opportunity you should pass up if given the chance, shared Benjamin Piper, chief of party and education team lead for RTI International in Kenya. “I wouldn’t have even said it was for me a few years ago,” Piper said of his current role leading Kenya-PRIMR, an education research project. But Piper, who has a background in research and statistics, said he was able to provide technical and budget support for several small research studies. In doing so, showed he could carefully manage several small budgets. You won’t be trusted to manage a $20 million dollar a year project unless you can first show you are capable of managing a smaller project, maybe $100,000, he said. And don’t worry about chasing after such positions, Piper advised. Instead, the role should be a logical transition. “If you do good work, good work will follow you,” he said. It’s also a matter of remembering that the exact skills that may have secured you the position won’t be the ones that allow you to succeed in it. Skills like human resource management, team building and finance might not be training someone has received, but they will be important to learn in order to succeed as a chief of party or team lead. Piper also stressed the importance of building relationships with skilled professionals on the ground before take over a project. Watch Piper’s advice by clicking the video above, and let us know what you think by leaving a comment below.