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Project Management

Effective Project Management Skills

Published by Pearson

Beginner to intermediate content levelBeginner to intermediate

The Top 20 skills you need to manage any project, even if it’s your first one

Project management isn’t just for project managers - almost everyone plans and runs a project at some point… and there are a few key skills which are essential to being highly effective! From successful project kick-off; to managing, influencing, and leading those around you; to ultimately landing a high-quality project within budget… this training has all of the essentials. Senior product manager and business strategist Megan Andrew covers the foundational and professional skills you need to upskill and feel empowered to successfully manage any project.

What you’ll learn and how you can apply it

By the end of the live online course, you’ll understand:

  • Key skills for thriving within each stage of the project management process
  • Methods for effectively collaborating with, managing, and leading the people around you
  • Best practices to successfully manage end-to-end resources and timelines for any project
  • Essential skills to solve problems, make decisions, and get things done for successful project implementation

And you’ll be able to:

  • Practically apply the key skills required for effective project management
  • Identify and leverage your natural skills and abilities for successful project management
  • Kick-off projects with engaged stakeholders and clear goals
  • Lead teams – even if you’re not a manager

This live event is for you because...

  • You’re in a technical role and need to manage projects more effectively
  • You’re currently managing projects and are hoping to upskill to become more effective
  • You are looking at moving into the project management space (if so, this is a great place to start in order to get an understanding of what you can expect of the role)
  • Your current role (or future role) has an element of managing projects within it (this is typically the case with a huge range of roles), and you are interested in being highly effective

Prerequisites

  • A high-level understanding of what project management is, and what it entails

Recommended Preparation:

Recommended Follow-up:

Schedule

The time frames are only estimates and may vary according to how the class is progressing.

Segment 1: Introduction & overview of project management (20 min)

  • Introduction to the course
  • Overview of project management
  • Overview of what will be covered
  • Q and A-
  • Exercise: Each attendee will jot down a few key skills (foundational and professional skills) that they think are key to being effective within the project management space. Once they have completed the activity, attendees will be asked to engage via the group chat to see how their lists align.

Segment 2: Approach - Project management approaches, methodologies, and organizational context (20 min)

  • Skill #1: Technical skills for the effective application of project management approaches (traditional and iterative)
  • Skill #2: Selecting and applying the correct project management methodology
  • Skill #3: Organizational awareness (approach, applications, tools, etc.)
  • Exercise: Provide a list of project management tools. Attendees should select one that they haven’t used before from each category to review.
  • Q and A

Segment 3: Getting the Project Going - Project kick-off, learning fast and a technical understanding (20 min)

  • Skill #4: Starting a project (goals, team, resources, requirements)
  • Skill #5: Flexible, adaptable and a fast learner (including ability to research)
  • Skill #6: Technical understanding
  • Q and A
  • Break: 5 mins

Segment 4: Managing and Working with People - Leadership, people management, self-awareness and collaborative communication (20 min)

  • Skill #7: Leadership
  • Skill #8: Relationship management and interpersonal skills
  • Skill #9: Self-awareness
  • Skill #10: Effective communication (including active listening)
  • Q and A

Segment 5: Sticking to Timelines – Prioritization, scheduling and effective documentation (20 min)

  • Skill #11: Organization and prioritization
  • Skill #12: Scheduling & task management
  • Skill #13: Documentation
  • Q and A

Segment 6: Getting Things Done – Influencing, being hands-on, keeping cool under pressure and problem solving (25 min)

  • Skill #14: Negotiation and influencing
  • Skill #15: Hands-on approach (teamwork)
  • Skill #16: Staying cool under pressure
  • Skill #17: Problem solving, critical thinking and decision-making
  • Exercise Skill #17: There are multiple fun ways to improve critical thinking and problem-solving skills. A problem will be provided to attendees, and they need to solve it.
  • Q and A
  • Break: 10 mins

Segment 7: Managing Resources – Managing costs, risks, and ultimate product quality (15 min)

  • Skill #18: Budget & cost management
  • Skill #19: Risk management
  • Skill #20: Quality management
  • Q and A

Segment 8: Wrap-up (20 min)

  • Exercise: Each attendee to have a quick look at the skills they jotted down earlier. Did the skills covered here align? Are they surprised by the breadth of skills needed within the project management space?
  • Wrap-up
  • Suggested next steps
  • Q and A

Your Instructor

  • Megan Andrew

    Megan Andrew is a highly skilled Senior Product Manager and Business Strategist, holding two degrees in science and post graduate degree in Business Administration. She is experienced in project management, relationship & stakeholder management, strategy creation & implementation, platform & sales optimization, and profit maximization. Megan has quickly excelled in roles across a diverse range of environments, ranging from large corporates to small start-ups to non-profits, and from banking, fintech, and insurtech to wellness and environmental sustainability.

    Recently, she moved to the vibrant city of Shanghai, to extend her global reach, as well as to learn from the rapidly changing Chinese market. Her exceptional career is only matched by her deep love for animals and the environment, which she serves through her role with an NGO in Africa. Her spare time is spent travelling and exploring new parts of the world (including Tibet and Everest Base Camp – 2021).