Introduction
In today’s workspace where collaboration is the main mode of completing many tasks, project management has become a booming niche within many industries. Effective project management will not only streamline work processes and provide better turnover for projects but will also ensure that companies are not spending unnecessarily. Good project managers ensure that the efforts of team members are never wasted, thus making everyone feel like a meaningful part of the team.
Not only are you responsible for getting projects done, but you also contribute greatly to the motivation (and thus, productivity) of your team. It may feel intimidating to begin becoming a project manager, so we have broken down the skills and knowledge that you need to begin this meaningful career.
Though there are various project management courses and certifications that give you the credentials to become a project manager, there are plenty of other ways to become one too.
Becoming A Project Manager Without A Qualification
There are many people in the workforce that are project managers without being fully aware of it. They are very likely a part of your organization or workplace, as many jobs are centered around collaboration to complete tasks and jobs.
Project management spans many different aspects, be it financial accounting, planning, or even handling logistics, which all need to have some oversight to maintain effectiveness. This also presents many opportunities for those who enjoy project management to also do it in their current job or industry.
Identify Where You Lack Project Management Skills
Almost any job will have an aspect of project management that you are already doing. That’s just how flexible and essential project management skills are! But if you want to go further into project management and improve your skills, there are also some aspects of project management that you have not had the chance to work on.
For example, if your job revolves around communications management and stakeholder management, you may not have been exposed to cost management or scope management. There are plenty of different areas in which a workplace needs a form of project management, so start identifying what you have not been exposed to, and begin working on these areas.
Project managers become better the more exposure they have to various fields of management, as it will allow them to better integrate and streamline work for the various areas. Focus on being well-rounded!
Jump Into The Deep End And Explore
After identifying what forms of project management you have not been exposed to, get yourself out of your comfort zone and take on new, different responsibilities!
What is just as good as certification, and arguably more important, is experience. And you can only get this experience from doing many different roles, so take on new, different projects!
The Learning Never Stops
You will need to learn a lot of new things when you explore these new areas of responsibility. You will make mistakes and come across obstacles you’ve never faced before, and that’s okay!
Learn from the mistakes you make, and exchange your experiences and expertise with other project managers. Alternatively, there are a plethora of online resources like Udemy or Coursera that give breakdowns of project management and give you a head start into whatever new responsibility you intend to take on.
Project Managers Have Their Own Toolbox, Too
It can be difficult to keep track of an entire team and their various tasks, and doing so without any aides is nearly impossible. Just like how coders have their coding languages and designers have their suites, project managers also have their own type of tools to make their jobs doable.
Project management software is a great tool that helps track the tasks of your individual team members, and ensure that they are completing their assignments on time. Not only does it make your task of overseeing their work easier, but it also removes any ambiguity that team members might have on what they need to do.
Tools like Teamwork and Asana are great platforms that help assign timelines, tasks, and a way to provide updates to their respective jobs. Centralizing your management is a great way to increase your productivity and in turn the team’s productivity as well!
Becoming A Certified Project Manager
If you’ve been doing project management for a while unofficially or you are looking to break into the industry, getting certified as a project manager is a great way to add to your resume and skill repertoire to impress employers.
Not only does it show that you are capable of doing the job, but it also gives you more leverage when negotiating for higher salaries, as well as covering other areas that you weren’t able to develop in your current field.
Choose The Best Project Management Certification For You
There are plenty of different certifications that you can get for project management. Start by identifying which certification type is most commonly held by other project managers in your industry, or what is in demand in your industry.
Different certifications have different costs and time requirements associated with them, so it is important to consider whether you are able to take on these additional lessons. The Project Management Professional (PMP), for example, is offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI) and is often accepted and desired by many industries.
Also ensure that your certifications, whatever you choose to pursue, are kept relevant and up-to-date with regular refresher courses and even exams.
Conclusion
Project management is an increasingly in-demand skill set that though many have practiced, few have actually capitalized on. Project managers are essential to ensuring that every project remains on track. It is by no means an easy job, as there is plenty to keep a constant eye on and be aware of. But those who pursue this career choice find it fulfilling to do, as they are the centerpiece that keeps the entire team ticking.
Keep putting yourself in new management opportunities and maybe even consider getting a certification, and make sure you never shirk at the chance to try your hands at something new. Experience is the strongest weapon of a project manager, as knowing as much of every aspect of your industry will ensure that you can make the best decisions for your team to make.
