Project management is a profession that requires continual learning to hone our skills. As we move from project to project, we’ll encounter new team configurations, different industries, changes in technology, and more.
To stay ahead of the curve (or at least keep up), we need to proactively seek out learning opportunities. For those with the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or other PMI designation, earning Professional Development Units (PDUs) is part of maintaining that credential.
Here are five resources to consider as you look for ways to learn and grow as a project manager:
1. ProjectManagement.com
This site includes over 1,000 on-demand webinars, templates, podcast episodes, and more. If you’re a PMI member and link your PMI login with ProjectManagement.com, you’ll have access to their premium webinars plus they’ll submit the PDUs for you with PMI.
2. PMI.org
The Project Management Institute’s website includes links to their publications and training seminar events (both virtual and in-person). You can also search for a Registered Education Provider in your area to find a course near you.
3. Registered Education Providers
R.E.P.s are organizations approved by PMI to provide training in project management and to issue PDUs. If you’d prefer to have all the project managers in your company attend a training session, searching for a local R.E.P. and arranging for a special session might be the best way to go.
4. Local PMI Chapters
Search for a PMI chapter in your area and check out their meeting schedule. Most chapters hold monthly meetings over the lunch hour.
These meetings are excellent opportunities to network with other project managers and learn from the expert guest speaker. PMI chapters also host various professional development opportunities throughout the year. A “professional development day” might span two-three days and include a variety of sessions to attend.
5. Mentors
We all could benefit from spending time with a project manager who is farther along in his/her professional experience. Consider reaching out to a more seasoned project manager and ask if he/she would be willing to pass down a few lessons learned.
This could be as simple as meeting for lunch once a month. Come prepared with questions and be ready to take notes.
Staying attuned to what’s next in project management and finding resources to help you deal with the immediate issues you’re dealing with isn’t easy. However, by leveraging the resources listed above, you should have a head start on managing any project challenges headed your way.
