17 Powerful Ways to Learn Project Management

    Personal Development

  •  Minute Read

Years ago, I had a great job managing about 50 Information Technology professionals. However, I wanted to become a project manager. Therefore, I made a difficult decision to change companies and jobs. Consequently, I needed ways to learn project management quickly.

Perhaps you're looking for ways to boost your project management knowledge and skills. Regardless of how long we've been on our project management journeys, we should never stop learning. Here are 17 ways to learn more.

More...

17 Ways to Learn Project Management

1. Podcasts. I run three times per week. I listen to podcasts via Pocket Casts. Click here for a list of excellent project management podcasts. 

2. Reading. "Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers," said Harry S. Truman. Get inside the heads of world class project managers through reading project management books. Here are some of my favorite books. Please check out books that I've authored.

3. Audio Books. I spend a fair amount of time traveling. When I do, I listen to books on Audible.

4. Book Study. Project managers often create study groups when preparing for the PMP and PMI-RMP® exams. Why not create study groups to read and discuss additional project management and business analysis books? 

5. Video Courses. Check out the online video sources such as LinkedIn Learning, PMI Learning, Online PM Courses (Mike Clayton), and the Project Risk Coach Courses

6. Conferences. One of the best ways to network and learn more about project management is through conferences.

7. Blogs. Project managers and leaders around the world share their experiences and knowledge. Here are a few of my favorites:

PMI-RMP® Exam Prep Course

Would you like to prepare for your PMI-RMP® exam? Learn where to start and what to study. And save yourself a lot of time. . .

8. Webinars. Webinars are a great way to learn. No travel. Safe. Convenient. Often filled with valuable content. Usually free. PMI provides some excellent webinars.

9. Teach. The previous ideas that I've shared are ways to learn by consuming information. However, one of the best ways I learn is through teaching. Teaching requires study, analysis, organization of material, practice, and "throwing something back."

"I have learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back." -Maya Angelou. 

10. Mentor. Find a mentor or be a mentor.

11. Asking Questions. Lou Holtz said, "I never learn anything talking. I only learn things when I ask questions." Ask the right questions at the right time.

12. Learn by Doing. "Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn," said Benjamin Franklin.

13. Learn from Difficulties, Mistakes, and Failures. Henry Ford said, "Life is a series of experiences, each one of which makes us bigger, even though sometimes it is hard to realize this. For the world was built to develop character, and we must learn that the setbacks and griefs which we endure help us in our marching onward." Do you see your failures as ways to learn?

14. Writing. "Learn as much by writing as by reading," said Lord Acton. One of the reasons I blog is to learn. Writing is a great tool for gathering and expressing your thoughts which help move things into your long term memory. Related post: 7 Benefits of Keeping a Project Journal.

15. Lessons Learned. "Prepare the unknown by studying how others in the past have coped with the unforeseeable and the unpredictable." -George S. Patton. Often project managers hurry to their next projects without learning from their former projects. Take the time to examine your projects and determine what you will do differently going forward.

16. Discussion Groups. Check out the project management discussion groups on LinkedIn. Project managers at all levels ask questions, provide answers and debate issues.

17. Mastermind Groups. I have not participated in a mastermind group, but I hear great things about these groups. It's a great concept for learning, encouraging one another, and holding one another accountable.

How About You?

Are you learning and growing? Why not take some time to review these 17 ways to learn and select a few methods to boost your project management knowledge? Oh, here is a bonus: the Project Risk Coach YouTube Channel.

You may also like

What is a RAID Log?

What is a RAID Log?
>