Project Management, unlike usual management practices is of high complexity. There are diverse resources to be managed, dynamic stakeholder requirements to be handled and deliverables achieved within a tight deadline under a shoestring budget.

This requires practicing as well as PMP students to step up their level of expertise on a regular basis. Usual textbook reading and practice is simply not enough to meet the expectations.

Here is an unofficial guide for newly project managers as well as for those who feel stagnated in the profession. Read, understand and implement them in your project management expertise and see the difference taking over.

Become a master of human psychology

A project manager is largely a people manager. His/her task is to control the actions and reactions of several resources with different temperaments. In the due course of a project, there will be several internal conflicts which a project manager will be able to resolve easily if there is a better understanding of human psychology.

To become better at understanding people and making them work in a changing team environment, it is necessary to read more about human behavior and relationships.

Become a financial wizard

In the end, stakeholders are concerned about one questions – Is the project completed within the assigned budget? The very outcome of a project is destined as a success or failure depending on the cost-effectiveness.

Completing the project in a shoe-string budget requires the project manager to be an exponent in financial management. He must also have a basic understanding of how tax concessions work and how rebates, exemptions and other benefits can be used in favor of the project for cost-effectiveness.

Become a technological evangelist

Gantt charts, Scrum boards, Asana and several other project management tools have become part and parcel of the everyday life of a project manager. For project managers in the software development industry, adopting technology for project management is inevitable.

Adopting technology brings to the table several benefits and possibilities that are missing in an offline medium. Becoming an early adopter of technology and staying relevant with changes will make the project manager more efficient and resourceful within the organization.

Become a proactive manager

Uncertainty lurks around in every corner of project management. Project flow get easily disrupted with a new stakeholder requirement or change in project scenario. However, a project manager cannot let such situations take control over the performance.

He/ she must strive to be a Proactive Manager who can take precautionary measures for possible situations. This will keep the entire project and its performance in tune with stakeholder requirements. To mention an example, project manager can set up a contingency fund in the budget to meet unexpected rise in material prices.

The definition of a project manager has changed significantly over the past few years. Project managers now handle a wide variety of allied tasks that have become easier thanks to technology.

However, the old-school method of mastering people, understanding finances and becoming a proactive manager remain must-have skills for becoming the best project manager. Perfect your project management skills in today’s world with an onsite PMP boot camp training program. The program is equally beneficial for students as well as employed project managers who want to level up their game.