How to Demonstrate Project Ownership at Work

One thing I’ve learned in my first 10 months at Meta… when you get a new project, communicate your career goals for that project ASAP. That way you’re aligned with your TL on how this project can help you get to the next level. For example, in order to advance from my level (new grad IC3) to IC4, I need to demonstrate that I can own a project end to end, rather than just complete broken down tasks that are assigned to me. Recently I was out on a large project with my team’s tech lead to build a new infra service that will power several new product applications. While we discussed the project proposal doc, my tech lead mentioned he would add a section to breakdown the milestones and tasks. I immediately asked if he would feel comfortable delegating that responsibility to me and shared with him the ways I hoped to demonstrate IC4 level performance in this project. He was supportive and worked with me to define a clear end to end project scope that I could own. I’m now at the tail-end of the project and am amazed by how much I’ve been able to learn from taking ownership of not only the implementation, but also the tech design, task breakdown, experimentation strategy, and more. It’s also relieving to know that when it comes time for performance review, my tech lead and I are aligned on the scope of work I had ownership over. This might not have been the case if I was not candid about my career goals from the start. What do others think? Is this a good best practice? Any tips on how to best align on career goals at the start of a new project? #SoftwareEngineer #coding

Project managers, stop playing defense Early in my career, I thought being a good PM meant keeping everything under control. → Tracking EVERY task → Mitigating EVERY risk → Making sure the team stayed ON schedule Here's the problem: playing defense doesn't win the game. Chasing down updates. Firefighting issues. Trying to keep things afloat. It's not leadership, it's survival mode. So don't get stuck reacting to problems instead of driving outcomes. Proactively lead your projects. Here's how: ✅ Own the narrative Set the direction. Drive conversations rather than waiting for updates. Anticipate concerns, provide insights before being asked, and position yourself as the GO-TO leader you are. ✅ Spot + mitigate issues before they become problems Playing offense means being two steps ahead. Don't wait for risks to show up and explode your timeline. Look for patterns, listen actively in meetings, have tough conversations early. Solve AND prevent problems. ✅ Make decisions PMs coordinate, but that doesn't mean they should sit back and wait for others to decide. If you see a path forward, recommend it. If no one is taking ownership, step in and facilitate. PMs should be DECISIVE leaders who drive impact and get things done. Managing a project is one thing. Leading it is another. Do you know the difference? One reacts. The other drives. Be the wheelman, take control of the offense, and start attacking those priorities. 🤙

I know I’m not supposed to say this, but… I'm more likely to promote folks that take initiative. In any role you're in, if you just look around, you’ll see things that need to be done. Processes that need to be built. Docs that need to be written. People who need guidance. Projects that need an owner. There’s always work waiting to be claimed. When I think about my own journey, going from CSM to CCO, the throughline has always been initiative. I didn’t wait for a project list to be handed to me. I created one. And I made sure people knew what I was doing, because if you're assuming they see your effort? I promise you, they don’t. But here’s the real kicker: if your team isn’t taking initiative, it might not be a “them” problem. It might be a you problem. Leaders need to make it clear that ownership and action are the expectation, not the exception. If you're a CSM wondering where to start, here are 3 ways to take initiative today: 1️⃣ Document what’s missing If you notice a gap (in process, training, or comms), start building it. Even a rough draft gets the wheels turning. 2️⃣ Own something that no one else has claimed Volunteer for the project everyone’s skirting. It’s your chance to lead. 3️⃣ Train or mentor someone Share your time, your insights, your shortcuts. Helping others grow is one of the most powerful ways to show leadership. And don’t forget this: Socialize your work. Talk to your manager. Share progress. Make sure the people who can influence your career know what you’re contributing. Visibility isn’t bragging, it’s strategy. That’s how we create a culture where people don’t just show up. They step up. Do you think taking initiative is a difference maker?