“I am still learning” – Michelangelo at the age of 87
The goal of a Project manager is to plan, organize and complete the projects on time, within budget and scope
Wish it was that easy!
In order to do that, consistent learning about new technologies, awareness of the latest tools and people management skills are important in this fast-paced changing environment.
So, if you are aspiring to become a Project Manager, my advice is to never solely rely on your company to fund or nominate you towards new skills or training unless your company is ready to invest in you.
Every company will have their own processes and policies on employee training opportunities and the requirements may be based on your
- Tenure – meaning the number of years you have spent in the company
- Position – some certifications like PMP may be available or funded only for managerial positions and above
please do discuss with your supervisor or manager during your one-on-one meeting and call out your interests openly
While solely relying on your company may delay your learning curve towards a new segment or your next desired position
Here are some of my tips on consistent learning:
- Prepare a list of challenges/issues you face day in and out
- for example: stakeholder management, business continuity, People behavioral issues, conflict management, resource allocation and management, obstacles and blockers for the team – these are just a small set of challenges.
- Create a LinkedIn account and follow/connect with your peers, Industry leaders – this is a great forum to get insights from the people you admire and gives you tons of free information
- Start to learn the latest courses on technology, business and creativity on LinkedIn Learning (there a tons of free content available)
- More importantly, identify what excites you
- for example: I love Project Management where I get an opportunity to collaborate with multiple stakeholders, plan and execute projects, solve problems etc. This motivated me to take the PMP Certification
If you are interested in taking the PMP exam, take a look at the PMP Examination Content Outline
I know being a full-time employee and preparing for these exams without any study time off is crazy. But if you want it then you have to just study there are no shortcuts. Here is one of my articles sharing insights on Working full Time and preparing for the PMP exam
Conclusion
Spending time improving your skillsets is important in this fast-paced changing world. While working on the same subject day in and out there is a huge chance that we might procrastinate to focus on what we really love. So invest your time wisely and plan well to enhance your skillsets.
So once again “I am still learning” – Michelangelo at the age of 87
For SME’s/team leaders who are aspiring to become a PMP or an existing manager facing hurdles, my personal recommendation is to study for PMP Certification. This course provides you with the foundation of
- People – soft skills required to run the projects smoothly
- Process – technical aspects
- Business environment – connection between projects and organizational strategy
Personally, this course helped me to improve my operations and my understanding of the above foundations better.
Note: there are quite a few online training institutions available online, here are some of them. I will continue to add more training providers.
Training Institutions
2. Velociteach
