Leading Projects You Don’t Fully Understand

What To Do When You’re Managing Work Outside Your Expertise

Read Time: 5 minutes

You got assigned the project.

But as you look at the scope, the acronyms, and the architecture diagrams, you realize this is not your comfort zone.

Maybe it’s technical. Maybe it’s regulatory. Perhaps it’s in a space you’ve never worked in before.

Either way, you feel the pressure to keep up, ask thoughtful questions, and not slow things down.

Let’s talk about how to lead well, even when you’re not the subject matter expert.

It’s Normal To Feel Lost

You don’t need to be the smartest person in the room. You need to create an environment where smart people can do their best work.

Here is what can make this situation harder than it needs to be:

• You feel like you need to “prove” you belong
• You stay quiet instead of clarifying what you don’t understand
• You worry about asking “dumb” questions and missing key details
• You lose authority because you're not driving content

Remember: your value is in structure, not technical depth.
You bring coordination, clarity, foresight, and momentum.

What Great PMs Do In These Situations

✅ Lead With Questions, Not Assumptions
Ask: “Can you walk me through this as if I’m new to it?” Framing curiosity as clarity-seeking earns respect.

✅ Anchor To Outcomes
Say: “I may not understand the tech stack, but I do understand the delivery goal. Let’s align the work to that.”

✅ Use Your Role As Translator
Ask SMEs to explain concepts in stakeholder language. You are the bridge between depth and direction.

✅ Create Space For Psychological Safety
Say: “Let’s make it okay to slow down and ask questions—on both sides.” This sets the tone.

💬 A PM in our community shared how she was asked to lead a network infrastructure overhaul. She started by drawing the process on a whiteboard and asking engineers to “teach it like a customer would ask.” Not only did it build trust—it improved how they explained things to each other.

Signs You’re Still Leading Well

You may not feel like an expert, but you are still the leader when:

• People bring you problems early
• Stakeholders thank you for the clarity
• Teams say “we made progress” after your meetings
• You can identify blockers even without knowing all the tech

You do not need to understand every detail to create forward momentum.

Your Job Is Still The Same

Even when the content is new, your core responsibilities stay the same:

✅ Keep The Team Aligned And Supported
✅ Keep The Scope Visible And Boundaries Respected
✅ Keep Risks Surfaced Early And Decisions Documented
✅ Keep Progress Moving, Even In Ambiguity

You are not the expert. You are the enabler.

And that’s how trust is built between the milestones.

👇 Your Turn

Have you had to lead when someone above you was unclear or missing?

👉 Share your story in the comments below or respond to this email.

You might be featured in an upcoming spotlight!