How to Become a Corporate Project Phenom

Project Management has become one of the most-needed specializations in today’s corporate world. A project consists of a set of tasks to achieve a defined objective within a define time frame. The success of a project depends on the successful management of resources from various teams, outside vendors and corporate management. The person who manages the project, also known as the project manager, is responsible for bringing together the people and other resources to make the project a success. If you want to become a top project manager, then you will need specific skills, knowledge and expertise in project management.

Planning

This sounds obvious, yet many projects fail due to the lack of proper planning. The project manager is responsible for planning the various tasks, timelines, and the budget associated with the successful implementation of project. The planning process varies with the type of project and industry. An IT project cannot be planned exactly like a construction project.

Communication

If the project manager is not communicating with other stakeholders regularly, then it will result in confusion and chaos. A successful project manager always notifies the team members with the current status of the project, pending tasks and upcoming milestones. You can communicate using face-to-face meetings, emails and conference calls. The lack of constant communication is a sure way to fail the project.

Know Your Objective

Always know the objective of the project. If the project manager forgets the end goal in delivering a project, then he or she will end up doing low priority, unrelated tasks that will have no effect on the project’s goals. The project manager must remind himself about the project goals on a daily basis. This will help you say “no” to many requests that will only slow down or hinder the project’s success.

Listen to All

A project manager who “listens” to everyone will accomplish more than someone who talks more. Not everyone has the skills to listen actively, and separate the noise from the true message. It takes practice and patience, to listen carefully and act based on the information gathered from various stakeholders.

Project Management Training Project Management Training

There are many sources available to learn the best practices and trends in project management. You can earn a BRU project management master’s degree, which offers an online degrees in Project and Program Management for working professionals. The M.S. program offers content based on the project management body of knowledge (PMBOK) published by the Project Management Institute (PMI).

You can become a top-notch project manager by learning from others, listening to senior managers and learning from your mistakes. A project manager is bound to make mistakes. A project manager’s success depends on how quickly he or she learns from the past mistakes.

About the author: A recent college graduate from University of San Francisco, Anica loves dogs, the ocean, and anything outdoor-related. She was raised in a big family, so she's used to putting things to a vote. Also, cartwheels are her specialty. You can connect with Anica here.