How do you develop your own skills as a project manager?

In my perspective is the first thing to remember is that we always learn continuously to develop and to be curious. Especially if we are fresh graduates, and we focus on the role of project manager. Accept all the challenges at work with tenacity and toughness. Don't hesitate to ask for feedback and input from our superiors, find our best mentor and building relationships with others. Then also took part in various training and international certificates, especially as a project manager.

Copy the good examples from other project managers and paste them to yourself. No need to be ashamed of learning from your subordinates.

To develop your skills as a Project Manager, the first step is to check your current skills will help to understand where you are and what needs to be improved. The peers are only with you for long hours, so they will know about you very well to bring good change within yourself. You can get advice, support, and guidance from peers that will change you to the next level. Whatever you learned in previous projects can be implemented, and check the outcome. If you make any mistakes, consider them an opportunity to learn more and develop your skills. Learning the latest trends in project management, planning, Stakeholder management, conflict management, and Vendor management will help build your skills as a Project Manager.

Project managers need a broad range of skills to excel. Adopting a mindset of continuous learning and upskilling is crucial. Start by assessing your current skills against the basics needed for successful project management. Research various project management methodologies to understand their importance and how to apply them effectively. Online assessments and quizzes are also valuable tools to gauge your skill level and identify areas for improvement. By continuously refining your knowledge and abilities, you can stay ahead in the field and deliver successful projects.

All mentioned aspects, such as self-assessment questionnaires and feedback surveys, are important. However, the success of the project depends on defining strengths and weaknesses for the entire team, not just the lead project manager. Personal experience and self-development comes from the working process. Since the goal is the result of collaborative team effort, discussing the vision of the project's development should be done before the start. In summary, I can say that Agile methology is useful in that way.

Personalized mentorship or coaching is the most effective way to develop your skills as a project manager. A personal mentor or coach offers training at an individual level, helping you build on your existing skills, knowledge, & strengths. Unlike general training programs that cover broad topics, a mentor offers focused & individualized support. By assessing your current abilities, they pinpoint gaps in your knowledge & craft a plan that aligns with your goals & challenges. The only challenge is finding the right mentor with expertise and hands-on experience in your industry. You can start your research on platforms like LinkedIn, join online communities, or forums, or you can request suggestions from professionals within your network.

I really believe that the best way to become better at something is to try it with an expert holding your hand. Having an experienced mentor on your side will help you grow in a skill so much faster than just banging your head against the wall trying to teach yourself the hard way.

Coaching is a good solution for teambulding, fostering unity among team members and even across teams and departments within the entire organization. For specific goals or a specific industry, the similar experiences of skilled project managers are important. These insights can sometimes be found in online communities or forums, where opinions, advice, and real work cases are shared. However, live conversations remain important in the exchange of experiences.

I'm coming back to this article with a real life report! I was facing some tough challenges related to leadership and management at PicsGenie recently, so I called up a family friend who really knows his way around leadership. after about an hour on the phone I felt like a whole new world had opened up, and I was actually confident that I could fix some pretty key problems that I had allowed to develop. A little coaching can save you weeks of banging your head against the wall.

Mentorship and coaching are vital for skill development in project management. While traditional one-on-one mentorship is valuable, growth can also come from diverse sources. I've found the following methods particularly effective: - Attending online mentorship group calls - Engaging with active project management groups - Reading LinkedIn contributor articles - Following industry content creators on various sites (Instagram, youtube, Facebook, etc.) Not everyone can engage in one-on-one mentorship, so it's crucial to find mentorship opportunities that fit your needs.

Soft Skills Development: Develop essential soft skills such as communication, negotiation, conflict resolution, and stakeholder management. Effective communication and interpersonal skills are critical for building relationships, motivating teams, and managing expectations throughout the project lifecycle.

As a Gandhi Fellow, I've found that embedding a culture of continuous learning and improvement enriches the application of new skills and knowledge. Encourage team members to share their learnings and insights, fostering a collaborative environment where everyone benefits from each other's experiences. Additionally, incorporating reflection sessions after project milestones allows for deeper insights into the application of new skills, facilitating iterative growth and refinement of practices.

Applying the knowledge you gain is crucial for its retention. Start by integrating new ideas into your existing projects. Rather than making large-scale changes, you can experiment by introducing minor adjustments or new processes to see how they affect the project's outcomes. Apply what you've learned without taking unnecessary risks while gaining valuable insights. Moreover, contributing to platforms like Medium, LinkedIn, or project management forums can be valuable if you want to share your knowledge more broadly. Writing about your experiences or offering insights to others reinforces what you've learned and allows you to engage with a broader community of professionals.

Using new skills and knowledge on projects from the start of learning deepens understanding. For example, when learning facilitation, apply it in team meetings. Seek feedback after attempts to understand strengths and areas for improvement. If no project is available, exchange feedback with fellow learners. Practice is key to mastering skills and understanding their practical application.

Something that I’m new to is Scrum. I’m working on a team with a person who is very familiar with the framework, and is willing to teach our team how to use Scrum to meet our goals faster. With this new skill I’ll be able to demonstrate a faster pace of progress towards goals, instead of just saying “well now I know Scrum, yay!” It’s better to dive in and actually put it to the test and make it a rock-solid tool that I have in my toolkit then to stay purely theoretical.

Nowadays new methods of project management and management are being implemented in an increasing number of projects and industries. As example - the applying of Agile in the civil engineering. Rather than being conservative, this industry becomes flexible and open to improvements and new technologies. A good starting point for implementing new knowledge is testing it on a small project with managing a separate team, ready to work differently. However, the interactions with subcontractors, related departments etc., should still be considered. And of course the feedback from anyone about the team's performance is important.

I've learned that fostering a culture of reflection is crucial for continuous improvement. Encourage team members to share their insights and perspectives during reviews, promoting open dialogue and learning from each other's experiences. Additionally, emphasize the importance of celebrating successes and acknowledging the contributions of every team member, reinforcing a sense of pride and motivation. Moreover, integrating lessons learned into future project planning ensures that past experiences serve as valuable guides for enhancing project outcomes and effectiveness.

1) Gain experience for different types of projects by joining existing project teams. Take initiative to assist the Team Lead in their planning and learn from their overall-in-charge perspective. The best way to learn quickly is by taking on more work. 2) There is always something new to learn in every project - from the content to the process. Add the useful bits to your project management repertoire, e.g. switch the schedule to make the flow/transition smoother, where suitable. 3) Take on lead/co-lead role for as many types of projects as possible. Go for the pilot projects, "never done before" types, and those with shifting goal posts for a challenge. Having completed such projects, most of the other projects are much easier to handle.

The project review and lessons learned is one of the most effective activities for improving processes. It's a step that can be very constructive for the entire team, especially if we can focus on the desired results and not on people. Having the effective participation of leadership can demonstrate the seriousness of the process, but even more fundamental is that the team sees the actions of the improvement points discussed.

To stay relevant, continually learn or revisit what you know. Make it a habit or hobby, or set new goals, breaking them into achievable tasks. Allocate dedicated time for learning, perhaps with a ritual like listening to podcasts while running or reading during commutes. Schedule self-improvement time on your calendar. Share your plans or achievements with colleagues or friends for support and motivation. Upon reaching a goal, reward yourself or plan a reward in advance when setting the goal!

This is my perspective. The key to staying motivated in our minds is that we believe success will be in our hands in the future. This is must be remembered in our subconscious mind. If you are tired, go to rest, go to the place you want or buy something for reward on yourself. If you have demotivation within yourself, read a book. I recommend reading Angela Duckworth's book, The Grit. I believed the book can motivated you in along path career, the book teach us how to stay in our career with passion and perseverance.

To keep my skills updated, I enjoy reading about or listening to (eg a podcast) current trends or best practices. I also enjoy attending networking groups or functions to speak with people who are either colleagues or are working on projects from a different lens (not a PM) so I can see what works/doesn't for them. It gives me a new take on something I take for granted or recognise an opportunity I can learn more about.

Developing as a project manager in engineering requires continuous learning. Engage in workshops, certifications, and mentorship programs tailored to engineering project management. Apply lessons from real-world scenarios, like managing complex energy projects, to refine skills in scheduling, risk assessment, and stakeholder communication. Seek feedback and adapt strategies to improve performance and ensure successful project delivery.

Continuous learning and adapt is key. Even though you have a lot of experience on previous projects, it is not reflected on the current project even if the scope and industry of the previous project is the same. Because the project has unique results and processes. Every project in other location has a different environment and a different approach.

While working on different projects, and managing a few simultaneously, I see how important organizational and time management skills are, along with the ability to see the next steps and plan ahead. The interesting part is that I learned it all long before my office journey began. It started while working as an au pair, managing three kids of different ages and their daily schedules. This skillset further developed during my time working on cruise lines, where valuing every single minute became crucial. Success depended on my ability to manage time, foresee the next steps, plan the route, and exceed expectations. There are a lot of skills that are transferable, and experiences are invaluable throughout professional journey.