How to Choose Practical Professional Development for Project Managers
Choosing practical professional development can be overwhelming for project managers juggling tight deadlines and diverse team demands. But not every opportunity moves the needle equally. Focused choices can sharpen skills without wasting precious time.
This article lays out clear criteria and a simple framework to guide project managers on how to choose practical professional development for one clear reader type: project managers aiming to boost relevant skills efficiently.
Why Practical Matters More Than Popular
Lots of options sound appealing: certifications, workshops, online courses. Yet popularity alone won't translate into better performance. Practical professional development means investing effort where you see clear applicability to your daily work.
Practical value comes from:
- Directly addressing skill gaps or role challenges
- Offering tools or methods you can apply immediately
- Fitting realistically into your schedule
A hypothetical example: a project manager struggling with stakeholder communication might benefit more from a workshop focused on negotiation tactics than from broad agile methodologies that feel abstract.
The 3-Part Filter for Decision Making
A straightforward framework helps cut through noise. The “3-Part Filter” checks each opportunity against three questions:
- Is it relevant? Does this address an actual challenge or skill gap?
- Is it actionable? Can I put what I learn into practice soon after?
- Is it feasible? Will I realistically complete this given my workload and commitments?
If any answer is no, reconsider that option. This helps avoid shiny distractions with little payoff.
Common Pitfalls in Professional Development Choices
Avoid these traps that waste time and energy:
- Taking courses because others do, without assessing personal need
- Choosing too broad topics lacking specific takeaways applicable to your projects
- Pursuing long programs when only a short focused workshop would suffice
Imagine a project manager who picks up an advanced data science course expecting general benefit but finds most content irrelevant due to lack of prior background-it’s a classic mismatch.
Balancing Tradeoffs for Best Fit
No single choice fits all needs perfectly. Tradeoffs between depth, time commitment, cost, and format matter:
- If immediate application matters most, short interactive workshops often beat extensive self-paced courses.
- If foundational knowledge is missing, investing in longer but comprehensive programs may pay off later.
The key is honest self-assessment of priorities before selecting development paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes professional development practical for project managers?
Practical development aligns closely with current job demands, teaches usable skills or tools immediately applicable in projects, and respects available time constraints.
How often should project managers pursue new learning opportunities?
The frequency depends on workload and evolving responsibilities but aiming for targeted growth quarterly or biannually often balances improvement with avoiding overload.
Are online resources effective for project management skill building?
Many online resources are valuable if curated carefully using relevance and actionability criteria; beware overly generic or theory-heavy materials lacking application focus.
How to identify genuine skill gaps needing attention?
A good start includes reflecting on recent project challenges, feedback from peers or supervisors, and comparing current abilities against role requirements or future aspirations.