Unlocking Success: Resources to Improve Your Project Management Skills

Whether you are building a new module for an application or planning something a bit more mundane such as a cross-town move, projects are everywhere in our professional and personal lives.

Most of us are most comfortable when we stick to our routines, but projects take us out of comfort zones, because they are unique, time-limited events geared towards accomplishing a single goal, such as that aforementioned software release or successful move to the home of our dreams!

PMI defines project management as “a temporary endeavor to create a unique product, service, or result.”  In this short article, we will explore why project management matters, common pitfalls, and some free or low-cost resources to help you get started.

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Why Project Management Matters

As we just stated, project management intersects with many aspects of our lives; here are just three reasons why good project management skills are important:

Reason #1:

We often obtain our goals more efficiently when we use project management principles.  We optimize our resources to ensure we are working smarter, not harder.  This also usually results in greater productivity.

Reason #2:

When we apply project management principles, because we are focused on our end result, we have a greater chance of accomplishing our goals.  Projects have specific objectives, and we use tools within our project management toolbox to identify potential bottlenecks and stay on track.

Reason #3:

Solid project management practices force us to plan for uncertainty.  We identify risks upfront and work to mitigate them.  This reduces the number of surprises and makes for smoother rollouts.

Common Pitfalls in Project Management.

Although we can improve our project execution by applying project management principles, we can still fall prey to some common missteps. Here are three:

Pitfall #1:

In order to please stakeholders or sponsors, we can be tempted to allow projects to expand beyond the original plan.  Using the personal move project from our introduction as an example, we could throw off our move timeline by adding an unplanned decluttering session as we pack. 

It is important to define clear goals at the beginning of the project.  In project management, it is often just as important to define what we will NOT do.

Pitfall #2:

The more people involved, the more complex project communication needs.  Many projects fall apart because of miscommunication.  It is important to regularly update stakeholders with clear, relevant information.

Pitfall #3:

Many project plans are overly optimistic and fail to anticipate potential risks.  Project Managers should identify project risks, early and often, create contingency plans, and monitor risks throughout the project.

Online Resources to Improve Your Project Management Skills

These are just a sample of the benefits and potential pitfalls you can encounter when working on projects.  Many vendors offer a variety of resources to help you become a more effective project manager.

Resource #1:

If you are member of PMI, you can download a copy of the Project Management Body of Knowledge and access a library of project management resources including the recent addition of a generative AI tool, PMI Infinity, specifically created to assist with project planning.

Resource #2:

Even if you are not a PMI member, you may subscribe to an online learning platform such as edX, Coursera, O’Reilly, or Pluralsight.  Each library contains a selection of curated content at no additional cost to subscribers.

Sites like Classcentral.com can help you identify highly rated material on these and other sites.

Resource #3:

Many companies that provide project management software also provide free training on how to use their tools to perform common project management tasks.  Such as this YouTube video from Monday.com.

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If you prefer live training, many training companies (including us!) provide free or low-cost introductory courses.

Here are a couple:

• Educate 360: https://educate360.com/webinars/ 

• Netcom Learning: https://www.netcomlearning.com/resource-catalog?page=Webinars

We can help! 

Follow our blog, our Flipboard magazine, and our LinkedIn page for sources of free training and articles on topics such as Project and Time Management.  

Subscribe to our Thriving at Work: Business Skills & Wellness series on Eventbrite to be the first to know when we will host our next live interactive Project Management classes.  

We will work with you to design a cost-effective training plan using many different sources of training.  If you need onsite or customized training, reach out and we will be happy to assist.

Complete our contact us form to request a quote or set up your free consultation.