PAPERmaking! g FROM THE PUBLISHERS OF PAPER TECHNOLOGY ® Volume 8, Number 1, 2022
Advancing in Project Management Project management is a growing and in-demand career, but how do you take steps to grow in your role? Alexis recommends taking the following steps to further your project management career. Make learning a daily habit . “Some of th e most successful project managers I know regularly work on furthering their communication, team building, and negotiation skills,” he says. Remember that learning is everywhere . Earning a degree is an important way to propel your career forward. You can also learn in other ways — from experience on the job and through support systems within the profession. To demonstrate your skills to employers, you can also explore opportunities to earn various credentials, such as becoming a certified project manager. Data has shown that project managers who hold a certification and/or a master’s degree in project management typically earn higher salaries than their counterparts who do not. Develop your technical skills . Like many fields, project management technology is continually evolving, so professionals need to stay ahead of trends in the field. For example, many project managers today are investigating the potential applications of artificial intelligence and robotics. “Artificial intelligence will play an import ant role in the way we collect, store, and share lessons learned in project management,” Alexis says. “Capturing lessons learned will be more structured, and machine learning will help reduce mistakes and project failure.” Develop a strong network for support . Many professionals are willing to share their knowledge and experience. Two places to start are the Project Management Institute and project management groups on LinkedIn. Hone your leadership skills . Power and influence are important, yet often project managers have project team members on their project who are not their direct reports, which can be an added challenge. However, you can influence people based on your power, which comes from different sources. Sometimes project managers will rely on their expert power to influence team members or their referent power — their ability to connect with others and develop connections within the organization. Simply knowing your field isn’t enough. Strong leadership and communication are essential skills for project managers. Share the value of project management . Demonstrate to managers and others in the organization how project management is essential for developing the organization’s competitive advantage. Effective project management can result in measurable benefits such as improved productivity or reduced time-to-market for a new product.
Article 11 – Project Management
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