The truth is there is probably as much training available on project management as there is on any leadership topic or skill I could ever write about here.
Don’t believe me? Google it.
There is plenty of training available, plenty of experience with it, plenty of knowledge available. Of course, that doesn’t guarantee that we are all getting better at it. In fact, my observation is that all of that training, experience, and knowledge doesn’t seem to be helping at all. Most organizations are still not getting better at delivering projects on time and on budget.
This could sound like I’m headed toward a rant about the effectiveness of training. And while I could write about that, it isn’t my focus today. I want to talk about using the skills, experience, and training available to increase the success of our projects. That is, after all, why we would participate in project management training, right?
If you are shaking your head and wishing the projects in your organization were going better, read on. You may be getting fired up to attend a new project management workshop, which is fine. But you have likely already attended some in the past, right?
But you know who hasn’t gotten any training? All the people working on the projects.
Do you think that if they had a bigger picture, they might be able to operate within the project more successfully?
Duh.
So, we send leaders to project management training, and we spend money to certify project managers. And that is all good. But are we giving those people in the trenches the skills they need to work inside those projects? Do your project teams understand the tools you rolled out to them? Or did you give it the quick overview in a project meeting? Do your project team members have additional prioritizing skills or mandates to help balance project work and their “regular jobs?” Have you entrusted project team members with a more significant piece of the work because you knew they had the skills to manage it?
When you do these things as a project manager, each project becomes more successful than the last. Take some time this week to think about what skills could help your project teams succeed at higher levels. Then, whether formally or informally, help them build those skills.
They will thank you. And your projects will succeed. And oh, by the way, the effort (and more importantly, the results) will make you look good, too.
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