What challenges might I encounter if I take on a position of project manager?

Expect the unexpected....

many things can go wrong ... with employees, contractors, material not arriving in time... strikes ... weather related issues... someone not having put an item into the budget and now you need to find how you can fix this problem... your time is more in demand than you originally estimated.... funds not available ... your contractors not sticking to the design and you need to reevaluate the situation having the problem fixed ... deadlines...

It is not easy to start a new project ... familiar with the environment (type of Project) or not. For seasoned Project Managers it will be more of a routine than for someone which has this job for the first time. 

1.Unexpected and uninvited events coming forth in a project while at execution stage.

2.Unrealistic timeline for certain process or a series/groups of process.

3.Communication deficiencies result in multiple interpretations of messages conveyed0ften lead to conflicts of opinion.

4.The changes in project scope upset the entire plans as the scope of the project first already lead in a direction for process describing the span of the project, deadlines, specifications. To adjust with the change require the project manager the capabilities of a trapezium artist.

5.Project cost escalations and change in socio- political factors give another hurdle and challenging.

How to control the time between your personality requirement  and managing the project 

Getting the sufficient qualified resources on time

having to do tough decisions without delay

having to do  succeed under3 constraints 

Project management is continuing to reveal itself as part art, part science, and part major headache! The list below highlights some of the top project management challenges.

1. Unrealistic deadlines here the challenge is to find alternate approaches to the tasks and schedules in order to complete a project "on time", or to get approval for slipping dates out.  
2. Communication deficit characterized by the lack of an infrastructure or culture for good communication and information dissemination.
3. Scope changes by far is the number one enemy , alternative plans should be communicated to the project participants (stakeholders, team, management, and others).
4. Resource competition  putting the PM in the position of being in competition Portfolio Management, ask upper level management to define and set project priority across all projects.
5. Uncertain dependencies - As the PM and the team determine project dependencies, assessing the risk or reliability behind these linkages usually involves trusting someone else's assessment. "My planner didn't think that our area could have a hurricane the day of the wedding, and now we're out of celebration deposits for the hall and the band, and the cost of a honeymoon in Sharm Elshikh" 
6. Failure to manage risk - A project plan has included in it some risks, simply listed, but no further review happens unless instigated by an event later happens.
7. Insufficient team skills the team members being too proud or simply not knowledgeable enough to tell the manager that they are not trained for all of their assigned work.
8. Lack of accountability the project  players are not held accountable for their results or lack of achieving all of them. 
9. Customers,stakeholders and end-users are not engaged during the project.  PM status updates are not provided to them.

Project Management Challenges Within Corporate Projects

Undefined Goals: When goals are not clearly identified, it is impossible for the team to meet them. And, since upper management cannot agree to or support undefined goals, the project in question has little chance of succeeding. The project manager must ask the right questions to establish and communicate clear goals from the outset.

Scope Changes: Also known as "scope creep," this phenomenon occurs when project management allows the project's scope to extend beyond its original objectives. Certainly, clients and supervisors will ask for changes to a project - but a good project manager will evaluate each request and decide how and if to implement it, while communicating the effects on budget and deadlines to all stakeholders.

Working With a Team: Challenges For Project Managers

Inadequate Skills for the Project: A project sometimes requires skills that the project's contributors don't possess. Project management training can help a project leader determine the needed competencies, assess the available workers and recommend training, outsourcing or hiring additional staff.

Lack of Accountability: A project manager's leadership qualities really shine when each member of the team takes responsibility for his or her role in achieving project success. Conversely, a lack of accountability can bring a project to a complete halt. Finger-pointing and avoiding blame are unproductive - but all-too-common - features of flawed project management. Learning to direct teams toward a common goal is an important aspect of project management training.

Another Project Management Challenge: Dealing With Risk

Improper Risk Management: Learning to deal with and plan for risk is an essential piece of project management training. And risk tolerance is a desirable project manager trait - because projects rarely go exactly according to plan. Gathering input, developing trust and knowing which parts of a project are most likely to veer off course are all aspects of the project manager's job.

Ambiguous Contingency Plans: It's important for project managers to know exactly what direction to take in pre-defined "what-if" scenarios. But if those contingencies are not identified, the entire project can become mired in an unexpected set of problems. Asking others to identify potential problem areas can lead to a much smoother and more successful project.

Project Management and Communication Challenges

Poor Communication:Project managers provide direction at every step of the project, so each team leader knows what's expected. Effective communication to everyone involved in the project is crucial to its successful completion.

Project management training includes an emphasis on written and oral communication skills

Proper communication increases team members' morale by establishing clear expectations

Good project managers keep communication and feedback flowing between upper management and team leaders

Managing Expectations: An Important Project Manager Attribute

Impossible Deadlines: A strong leader - and successful project manager - knows that repeatedly asking a team for the impossible will result in declining morale and productivity. The odds of successfully completing a project under unreasonable deadlines are not very good.

Resource Deprivation: In order for a project to be run efficiently and effectively, management must provide sufficient resources - human, time and money. Project management training shows how to define needs and obtain approval up front, and helps project managers assign and prioritize resources throughout the duration of a project.

Lack of Stakeholder Engagement: A disinterested team member, client, CEO or vendor can destroy a project quickly. It's like having a distracted paddler in a two-person canoe - you might get to the finish line, but not efficiently or on time. And you'll waste a lot of energy in the process! A skilled project manager communicates openly and encourages feedback at every step to create greater engagement among participants.

The biggest challenge is to succeed in the project.

1. Changes in requirement

2. Changes in deadlines

3. Resource allocation

4. Hidden issues

5. waterfall effect or agile method

6. surprises

The biggest challenge you may encounter would be if you made wrong decisions in your position, these are costly. Avoid rushing a project to ensure quality is achieved. Obstacles you may face, lack of communication or instant responses when mostly needed, lack of cooperation or involvement and support, jealousy from colleagues because of your capabilities. Budget is too tight, in availability of venues, resources, materials needed. You always need to have contingencies in order to fall back on If necessary. 

1- bad design.

2- errors in BOQ

3- delay's due to weather, disasters, ...etc (act of God)

4- delay's due to contractors and sub-contractors.

5- owner not paying an invoice.

6- inaccurate work.

7- slow production rate.

8- Specs way above what the market and contractors offer.

9- personal issues between workers or stalk holders.

10- vague areas in the management contract or any deals or commands that may be falsely interpreted.

good luck! 

There are a lot of challenges that the project manager needs to deal with them efficiently. So having a qualified PM experience, PM education, and PM certifications will contribute and reduce the pain of handling these challenges.