Land PM Roles with Ease -The Strategic Advantage

Project management skills with a strategic focus would transform the trajectory of your career and life! I am privileged to be part of the transformational journey of millions of people globally.? The past few days have been fun and impactful, teaching my students at my local university here in Canada???? who are embarking on their project management careers. Impacting and creating leaders is the most fulfilling aspect of my life.

The good news is the demand for project management professionals is soaring. According to the Project Management Institute (PMI), the global economy needs 25 million new project professionals by 2030 to meet the demands of the growing project economy. This surge is driven by the increasing complexity of projects across industries and the critical need for skilled professionals to lead them.

One of my students asked me, "Fola, how do I launch a project management career in 90 days or less?" I said I would give you the strategic edge so that you not only get a project management job but also get on the fast track for promotions.

Project Management: A Life Skill with Strategic Focus

Project management is not just a career; it's a life skill that, once elevated with a strategic focus, can be leveraged across business, career, and life. The principles of project management—planning, executing, monitoring, and closing—apply to a wide array of personal and professional scenarios. When these skills are enhanced with strategic thinking, they empower individuals to achieve higher levels of efficiency, productivity, and success in various aspects of life.

Understanding how to align project goals with broader organizational objectives, manage resources effectively, and lead teams strategically can transform not only your professional path but also your endeavours. Strategic project management equips you with the tools to navigate complex challenges, make informed decisions, and drive meaningful outcomes. This holistic approach to project management fosters a mindset that values continuous improvement, innovation, and adaptability, all of which are essential in today's fast-paced world.

Project Management: Fueling the Global Economy

Project management skills are critical in fueling the global economy. As organizations across all sectors undertake increasingly complex projects, the demand for skilled project managers continues to grow. Here’s how project management contributes to economic growth:

1. Driving Innovation: Project managers lead initiatives that bring new products, services, and technologies to market, driving innovation and competitive advantage.
2. Enhancing Efficiency: Effective project management ensures that resources are used efficiently, reducing waste and optimizing performance across projects.
3. Enabling Strategic Initiatives: Project managers translate strategic plans into actionable projects, ensuring that organizational goals are met, and value is delivered.
4. Supporting Infrastructure Development: Large-scale infrastructure projects, such as transportation, energy, and telecommunications, rely on skilled project managers to deliver them on time and within budget, supporting economic development.
5. Creating Jobs: The demand for project management professionals creates employment opportunities, contributing to workforce development and economic stability.
6. Improving Public Services: Project managers in the public sector improve the delivery of public services by managing projects that enhance education, healthcare, and other essential services.

Benefits to the Canadian Economy and Migrants to Canada

Project management skills can significantly benefit both the Canadian economy and migrants to Canada. Here’s how:

Boosting Economic Growth: As Canada continues to invest in large-scale infrastructure and technology projects, the demand for skilled project managers will rise. This demand drives economic growth by ensuring that projects are completed efficiently and effectively, enhancing Canada's competitiveness on the global stage.

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Creating Job Opportunities: The growth in project-based work creates numerous job opportunities for Canadians and migrants alike. Project management skills are in high demand across various sectors, including construction, information technology, healthcare, and finance, providing a wide range of employment options.

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Facilitating Integration for Migrants: For migrants to Canada, acquiring project management skills can facilitate integration into the Canadian workforce. These skills are transferable across industries and can help migrants secure stable and well-paying jobs, contributing to their economic stability and social integration.

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Driving Innovation and Development: Project managers play a crucial role in driving innovation and development within organizations. By leading projects that introduce new technologies, processes, and products, they contribute to the advancement of industries and the overall economy.

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Enhancing Public Services: Skilled project managers are essential for the successful execution of public sector projects, such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure development. Effective management of these projects ensures that public services are delivered efficiently, benefiting communities across Canada.

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Supporting Sustainable Practices: Project managers can lead initiatives that focus on sustainability and environmental responsibility. By incorporating sustainable practices into project planning and execution, they contribute to Canada's efforts to address climate change and promote sustainable development.

Exponential Benefits of Evolving into a Strategic Project Leader

The benefits of project management are significant, but they become exponentially greater when project managers evolve into strategic project leaders. As strategic project leaders, professionals are not only managing projects but also driving strategic initiatives that align with organizational goals and contribute to long-term success. This evolution brings several key benefits:

1. Enhanced Organizational Impact: Strategic project leaders have a broader understanding of how their projects fit into the overall business strategy. This enables them to make decisions that enhance the value of their projects and contribute to the organization's strategic objectives.
2. Increased Career Opportunities: By developing strategic thinking and leadership skills, strategic project leaders can open doors to higher-level roles within their organizations. They become key players in driving change and innovation, making them valuable assets to any organization.
3. Improved Project Outcomes: Strategic project leaders are better equipped to anticipate and mitigate risks, manage stakeholder expectations, and ensure that projects deliver the desired outcomes. Their ability to align project goals with strategic objectives leads to more successful and impactful projects.
4. Greater Personal Growth: Evolving into a strategic project leader involves continuous learning and development. This growth not only enhances professional capabilities but also fosters personal development, leading to a more fulfilling career and life.
5. Stronger Leadership and Influence: Strategic project leaders are effective communicators and influencers. They can inspire and motivate their teams, build strong relationships with stakeholders, and drive a culture of excellence within their organizations.

By focusing on strategic project leadership, project managers can unlock new levels of potential and create a lasting impact on their organizations and their careers. This strategic focus transforms project management from a tactical skill set into a powerful leadership capability, enabling professionals to lead with vision, purpose, and impact.

How I landed My First Six Role as a Migrant Within 90 day

Let me share a bit of my Journey as a Migrant and the Power of Transferable Skills. As a migrant to Canada, I faced numerous challenges, but I also saw immense opportunities by focusing on my transferable skills and how I could position my Unique Value Assets (UVA) in line with meeting organizational needs.

Transitioning to a new country meant adapting to a different culture, workforce, and way of life.

One key factor that helped me succeed was understanding what organizations wanted based on market needs and trends I tailored my transferable skills which were my UVA.

By mapping my past experiences to the needs of the organizations I aimed to work with, I was able to identify the gaps excited from my experience and put together the right action steps to position myself as the best candidate for opportunities.

My Experience Traceability Matrix Resource helped align my previous experiences with the current demands of the job market too.

This matrix helped me systematically map out my skills and competencies, ensuring that I could effectively communicate how my background and expertise were relevant to potential employers. It also highlighted areas where I needed to upskill or gain additional experience, enabling me to focus my efforts on closing those gaps.

Within 90 days of settling in Canada, I landed a six-figure opportunity. Let me show you how.

Steps To Land Your Project Management Role

Let us explore the steps you need to start the journey to land a project management role and set the path for promotions as you evolve into a strategic project leader.

1. Foundation: Mastering Project Fundamentals

Objective: Gain a solid understanding of project management principles and methodologies.

• Initiate: Learn how to effectively start a project. This includes defining the project scope, identifying stakeholders, and setting clear objectives.
• Execute: Develop skills to carry out the project plan, manage resources, and ensure team collaboration.
• Monitor and Control: Understand how to track project progress, manage changes, and ensure the project stays on course.
• Close: Learn the processes involved in closing a project, including finalizing deliverables, obtaining stakeholder approval, and conducting post-project evaluations.

Key Activities:

• Enroll in project management courses or certifications (e.g., PMP, PRINCE2).
• Engage in hands-on project simulations or case studies.
• Join project management communities like the Project Management Institute , Association for Project Management and forums. For those in Calgary, Canada my chapter is a great place to start PMI Southern Alberta Chapter (PMI-SAC) .

2. Research: Exploring the Business Domain and Strategic Landscape

Objective: Develop a deep understanding of the business environment and the strategic context of project management.

• Business Domain Research: Study the specific industry you are interested in, including its trends, challenges, and opportunities.
• Strategic Landscape: Analyze how project management fits within the broader organizational strategy and how it can drive business success.
• Best Practices: Investigate the best practices in project management within your chosen industry.

Key Activities:

• Conduct market research and competitive analysis.
• Read industry reports and strategic management journals.
• Network with professionals in your field to gain insights.

3. Mindset: Developing a Strategic Project Management Mindset

Objective: Cultivate a strategic mindset that aligns project goals with organizational objectives.

• Vision Alignment: Understand how to align project goals with the organization’s strategic vision and objectives.
• Critical Thinking: Enhance your ability to analyze situations, identify problems, and develop strategic solutions.
• Leadership Skills: Build leadership skills that enable you to inspire and guide your team towards achieving strategic goals.

Key Activities:

• Participate in strategic leadership workshops and training programs.
• Practice strategic thinking through real-world scenarios and exercises.
• Seek mentorship from experienced project managers and strategic leaders.

4. Launch: Executing Your First Strategic Project

Objective: Apply your knowledge and skills by launching and managing your first strategic project.

• Project Selection: Choose a project that aligns with your strategic goals and provides significant value to the organization.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborate with senior leaders and key stakeholders to gain their support and insights.
• Execution and Monitoring: Implement the project plan, monitor progress, and make necessary adjustments to stay on track.

Key Activities:

• Identify a mentor or advisor to guide you through your first project.
• Document your project processes, decisions, and outcomes for future reference.
• Solicit feedback from stakeholders and team members to refine your approach.

5. Improve: Continuous Learning and Adaptation

Objective: Embrace a continuous improvement mindset to enhance your project management skills and strategic impact.

• Reflect and Learn: Conduct post-project reviews to evaluate what went well and what could be improved.
• Adapt and Evolve: Apply lessons learned to future projects and adapt your strategies as needed.
• Stay Updated: Keep abreast of new developments in project management and strategic leadership.

Key Activities:

• Participate in ongoing professional development opportunities (e.g., conferences, webinars, advanced courses).
• Join project management and industry-specific associations.
• Regularly review and update your skills and knowledge to stay relevant in the field.

6. Power Skills: Enhancing Core Competencies

Objective: Develop essential soft skills that complement your technical expertise and enhance your overall effectiveness as a project leader.

• Communication Skills: Improve your ability to convey ideas clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences.
• Presentation Skills: Learn to deliver impactful presentations that capture attention and drive action.
• Critical Thinking: Sharpen your analytical skills to assess situations, identify root causes, and develop effective solutions.
• Emotional Intelligence: Cultivate self-awareness, empathy, and interpersonal skills to build strong relationships and lead teams effectively.
• Negotiation Skills: Master the art of negotiating to achieve win-win outcomes and resolve conflicts.
• Time Maximization: Develop strategies to manage your time efficiently and prioritize tasks effectively.

Key Activities:

• Attend workshops and training sessions focused on soft skills development.
• Practice these skills through real-world scenarios and role-playing exercises.
• Seek feedback from colleagues and mentors to continuously improve your competencies.

7. Bonus - Transferable skills?-

Objective: Uncover the skills that you can leverage from past roles you have done even if you never had the current title you are currently applying for.

Leverage the Experience Traceability Matrix - Comment below and I will share more details.

key Activities:

• Assess Yourself to uncover your skills and strengths
• Research the market to understand your project management skills are needed
• Do a gap assessment of your skills.
• create an action plan to close the gap

With this comprehensive approach, you can strategically launch and advance your project management career and set yourself on the path to becoming a strategic project leader. Focus on building a strong foundation, conduct thorough research, develop a strategic mindset, execute impactful projects, and continuously improve your skills.

By following these steps you create a strategic edge that will set you apart in the competitive field of project management and position you for long-term success.? This approach will enable you to not only excel in your career but also drive significant value for your organization and personal growth. I also have a free resource, see the post to get details.

Next Step For You In the ?Next 90 Days

The path to becoming a strategic project leader is filled with opportunities to drive change, foster innovation, and create lasting impact. Whether you're a new immigrant seeking to integrate into the Canadian workforce or a professional looking to elevate your career, the time to act is now.

1. Take the first step: Enroll in a project management course or certification today. Begin mastering the fundamentals that will serve as the foundation of your success.
2. Leverage your skills: Use a skills traceability matrix to map your past experiences to the needs of today's job market. Identify the gaps and focus on closing them.
3. Cultivate a strategic mindset: Participate in leadership workshops, seek mentorship, and continuously improve your strategic thinking and leadership abilities.
4. Launch your journey: Start by managing your first strategic project. Document your progress, learn from your experiences, and refine your approach.
5. Invest in continuous improvement: Stay updated with the latest trends, attend professional development events, and enhance your core competencies or work with a strategist or coach like ???Fola F. Alabi to help compress time and achieve results faster.

Your future as a strategic project leader starts now. Embrace the journey, leverage your skills, and make a significant impact on your career, your community, and the global economy. Begin today and transform your potential into remarkable achievements.

Act and lead the way to a brighter, more strategic future. Your journey begins here. ?Work with Fola and 100X on your investment! Book a call today?

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About the Author

Hi, I am ???Fola F. Alabi a tech mum, transformative and evidence-based leader who sets and drives a clear vision, leading business results through excellence in strategic leadership and project delivery that drive strategic outcomes. Fola F. Alabi's goal is to transfer knowledge globally leveraging project management with strategic leadership and Project intelligence.

Fola lends her voice and expertise to podcasts and conferences, helping organizations elevate their leaders and teams with the skills needed to increase their project intelligence levels.

Fola is available for keynotes, training, and corporate event facilitation. BOOK now to elevate your workplace project leadership competence with evidence-based strategic project leadership solutions. Learn more about Fola's B2B services at www.FolaAlabi.com. Become a Strategic Project Leader!

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