Everyone just wants to become a better version of who they already are, whether personally or professionally. And in some cases, you want to go beyond just being better; you want to be the best you can be. If you’re a project manager who’s interested in excelling in your career, the one thing you want to keep in mind is that succeeding in this field isn’t just about managing tasks and deadlines correctly.
You will need to combine formal knowledge with practical experience to ensure you have a well-rounded set of project management skills that will be crucial for success in every project. Here are some tips to make that possible.
1. Never Stop Learning
Taking an online project management certification from a top provider like RocketCert is a great achievement, but that’s not where your learning journey should end. Like with every other career, learning in project management should be an endless journey. So, never stop being curious and learning new things. If you do, it will only be a matter of time before you become obsolete.
Since this is a highly dynamic field where new best practices keep coming up, you want to keep enhancing your existing set of skills by acquiring new ones. And remember that learning doesn’t exclusively mean formal training. So, whether you are investing in self-directed learning, mentoring/coaching, attending industry events, or other types of informal learning, the key here is to never stop learning.
How to apply this:
- Enroll in Advanced or Specialized PM Courses Every Year: Take at least one new certification annually to sharpen your skills and stay competitive. Courses like PMP, PMI-ACP, and Agile methodologies are industry standards that employers recognize.
- Follow Thought Leaders and Podcasts in Your Industry: Keep your mind engaged during commutes or gym time. Podcasts like Projectified, The Digital Project Manager, or Scrum Master Toolbox offer up-to-date insights from seasoned professionals.
- Read One Book a Month Related to Leadership, Strategy, or Project Management: Build a habit of reading to stay mentally sharp. Books like Deep Work, Radical Candor, or The Lean Startup can shift how you approach projects and people.
- Join PM Communities or LinkedIn Groups to Stay Updated: Online communities expose you to real-world challenges and insights from fellow project managers. They’re great for networking, troubleshooting, and discovering new tools.
- Attend Webinars, Conferences, or Virtual Workshops Regularly: Stay ahead by participating in industry events. These sessions often include case studies, tool demonstrations, and insider strategies you won’t find in textbooks.
2. Always Seek Feedback
You can’t improve if you don’t know what you’re supposed to improve on, so don’t hesitate to talk to your clients and colleagues about your performance. Ask them to give their suggestions on what they wish you’d do better and work on the areas they highlight to ensure you get as close as you can to being perfect.
When asking for feedback, also make sure to get it from people who know how to frame things in a positive light. They, however, should be honest and avoid sugarcoating things so it’s easier for you to know where you are going wrong. Also, be sure to give yourself grace in your improvement journey, as even the best wine takes time.
How to apply this:
- Schedule Post-Project Debriefs With Your Team and Stakeholders: Set aside 30 minutes after each project to review what went well and what didn’t. Use this feedback loop to refine your approach for future projects.
- Use Anonymous Surveys to Get More Honest Feedback: When people can give feedback without judgment, they’re more honest. Use tools like Google Forms or Typeform to gather unfiltered insights.
- Keep a Feedback Journal to Track Patterns and Progress: Document feedback you receive over time and look for recurring themes. Use these patterns to guide your personal development efforts.
- Ask Your Mentor or Supervisor to Audit One of Your Recent Projects: A third-party review from someone experienced can uncover blind spots you wouldn’t see yourself. It also shows initiative and openness.
- Practice Receiving Feedback With Openness, Not Defensiveness: Feedback is not a personal attack. Take a breath, listen fully, and ask for clarity when needed. Growth starts with humility.
3. Invest in Your Interpersonal Skills
It’s no secret that you will learn a lot with the different tools and information sources available to project managers. While Gantt charts, quantitative risk analysis, Kanban boards, Earned Value Management, and other tools help you work better, the real magic you’ll ever perform as a project manager is showcasing your interpersonal skills.
Excellent project managers have a diverse range of communication skills and empathy for others. They always handle every situation with maximum effectiveness and self-awareness. For some people, these are skills that occur naturally, but others have to work on them actively.
How to apply this:
- Practice Active Listening in Every Meeting: Don’t just wait for your turn to talk. Focus on what’s being said, ask clarifying questions, and acknowledge the speaker. It builds trust and prevents miscommunication.
- Take a Communication or Emotional Intelligence Course: Sign up for short courses on platforms like Coursera or LinkedIn Learning. Strong soft skills can make you more effective than any tool or framework.
- Role-Play Conflict Resolution Scenarios With a Colleague or Coach: Rehearse difficult conversations before you have them. It helps you stay calm, clear, and in control when the real situation hits.
- Start Weekly 1-on-1s With Your Team Members to Build Trust: A short check-in each week helps catch issues early, boosts morale, and strengthens relationships.
- Reflect on Your Body Language, Tone, and Clarity During Presentations: Record yourself or ask for feedback on your delivery. People follow confident communicators, not just competent managers.
4. Know Your Strengths
No human is perfect, and if that’s the case, then no project manager is perfect as well. This can only mean one thing: Since every project manager is cut from a different cloth, you will have strengths and weaknesses that are unique. That’s usually a good thing and is often what you need to stand out. Working on your strengths means whatever you are good at will come out so naturally that work feels like just one of your hobbies.
At the same time, conduct an accurate assessment of your weaknesses and decide what you can do about them. Most people will advise you to be intentional about improving in those areas, but we say don’t drain your energy doing that. The easier and more effective thing to do would be to work with people whose skills balance out your weaker areas. This also enhances your interaction skills. Win-win.
How to apply this:
- Take a Personality or Strengths Assessment like CliftonStrengths or DISC: These tools help you identify your strongest traits and how to apply them in your leadership style.
- Create a Skills Map to Visualize What You Do Best and Where You’re Weak: Map out your core strengths and limitations. Use it as a visual guide to determine what you should focus on and where you need support.
- Delegate or Outsource Tasks That Fall Outside Your Core Strengths: Don’t waste time trying to be good at everything. Focus on what you’re great at and let others shine in areas where you’re weak.
- Collaborate With Team Members Who Complement Your Skill Gaps: Build a team that balances you out. For example, if you’re visionary but not detail-oriented, work with someone who thrives on structure.
- Build Routines Around Your Strong Areas to Maximize Daily Output: Identify when and how you work best—whether it’s early morning planning or afternoon reviews—and structure your day around those high-performance zones.
Now Is the Time to Take Action
Your success as a project manager is guaranteed if you decide to invest your energy in the right areas. Of course, this is a long journey, so keep in mind that you won’t see the improvement immediately. Focus more on your strengths and work on your weaknesses where possible, but don’t burn yourself out in the process.
That’s why you should get your education from RocketCert. It’s one of the top professional education providers that invests in experts to write and narrate course content fully. This makes studying easier, thus it’ll be easier to reach your goals.
Suggested articles:
- Setting Goals as a Project Manager: A Comprehensive Guide
- The Top 10 Qualities of Successful Project Managers
- 10 Steps to Career Growth From Project Manager to Chief Project Officer (CPO)
Daniel Raymond, a project manager with over 20 years of experience, is the former CEO of a successful software company called Websystems. With a strong background in managing complex projects, he applied his expertise to develop AceProject.com and Bridge24.com, innovative project management tools designed to streamline processes and improve productivity. Throughout his career, Daniel has consistently demonstrated a commitment to excellence and a passion for empowering teams to achieve their goals.