What you need to focus on to be successful as a PM in the new year
Do you want to know what project management skills you need to be successful at your project?
While there are certain project management skills that will always be important, there are particular ones you should especially focus on in the new year.
With the competitive business world, rapidly changing trends and requirements, and advancements in technology, there are certain skills you just can’t be without as a project manager.
Critical Analysis
In the past, projects have been very tactical with lots of individuals who are subject matter experts to do the analysis and then come to the table with their expert opinion.
But critical analysis is going to be even more important for project managers going forward.
We have tons of technology at our fingertips, including artificial intelligence, and what many are finding is that because information is so easily accessible, people are not necessarily checking it or analyzing it to ensure its relevance and accuracy.
In the perfect world, all information would be correct information, but that’s not the case. You need to compile information and then look at it strategically and analytically, so having strong critical analysis skills is really important.
Strategic Execution
Strategic execution means ensuring that you have solid planning behind you on every project.
You don’t need to have a 100% locked down plan, because you need to be open to issues coming up and creative brainstorming… but you need to have a strong baseline foundation.
No matter the methodology you use to execute, you need to have a solid scope statement that’s aligned with the strategy and vision within the organization.
Being able to take a step back and look at all the moving parts is critical. Having a strategic mindset is not just about executing a task.
You may need to shift things around throughout the project, but you’re doing it within the framework you’ve created.
More critical skills in 2024
I put together a video sharing 3 more critical skills you need to focus on in 2024. Head over to YouTube with me and we’ll finish this conversation there.
If you want even more project manager tips on every aspect of managing a successful project, make sure you check out my SLAY Project Management course where I give you all the templates, tips, and techniques to implement if you want all your future projects to be productive and successful.
Adriana Girdler, PMP | Creator of Slay Project Management™
