3 big mistakes to avoid as a professional in project management

When it comes to project management, we should think about any kind of project. As a professional in project management, it’s important to be knowledgeable of the different project approaches and methodologies. Making mistakes can delay your career and cost your job.

In this text, I will show you three mistakes to avoid when working in project management

Think that there’s no life beyond IT  

One of the biggest mistake a project management professional could do is to think about projects only in IT industrie.

We can find projects everywhere… in any domain… in any type of organisation. Every company, no matter what business area it operates in, needs to develop projects for its business strategy.

When I say companies, I also include gouvernements, non-profit organisations, and even individuals need to work with projects.

Project management is intensely used in the IT segment and the main reason that you will find projects in IT is because almost all companies have an IT department developing some kind of project.

But, it is not only IT that need good project managers.

You have some of the key industries in the world looking for good project managers, like

• Health, oil & gas
• Construction
• Gouvernement
• Aerospace & defense
• Education
• Telecommunications
• Manufacturing
• Entertainment, etc.

Do you know how big is the project management market size?

By 2027, employers will need 87.7 million individuals working in project management oriented roles PMI (2017)

• Manufacturing and construction – 9.7 million
• Information Services and Publishing – 5.5 million
• Finance and Insurance – 4.6 million
• Management and professional services – 1.7 million
• Oil and gas – 49.000

On an annualized basis, employers will need to fill nearly 2.2 MILLION NEW PROJECT-ORIENTED ROLES each year through 2027

The global project portfolio management market size was valued at USD 4.2 billion in 2019 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.4% from 2020 to 2027

www.grandviewresearch.com

Newly created positions are expected to occur each year in project-oriented industries (11 countries analysed)

Project Management Job Growth and Talent Gap Report – 20217 – 2027

This shows you that not only IT companies need good project managers, but companies in other industries too.

But, on what kind of project, organisations are investing their money?

Acording to PMI, 68% of the companies in the world are looking for digital transformation and 64% have projects to deploy their business strategy. This shows you that project management is not only for IT companies, but also for companies that want to develop their business.

Don’t think out of the box when choosing the project management strategy

Another great mistake that a good project management professional can do is to think in only one method to manage their projects.

A good project management professional should have a good understanding of different project management methodologies, like Waterfall, Agile, and more recently hybrid methods. This will help them to choose the best method for the project that they are working on.

In these times when companies need to challenge themselves to face a pandemic, a new concept has emerged : the gymnastic enterprise. These enterprises put more focus on the outcomes than on the process. They try to select the best way to deliver their projects not beeing restrict to one or other method.

Take a look on this graph that shows the percentage of projects managed by type and approach.

PMI – Pulse of profession

What can you learn about this graph?

This graph shows that the percentage of projects managed by type and approach has been changing over time. Over the last few years, there has been a shift towards more hybrid methods, which is likely due to the increasing need for agility in today’s business world.

Forget to add value to your career

If you think that your actual knowledge and experience is enough to keep your job…. you look like Julia Roberts in the movie when she goes back to the store and finds the saleswoman again and says clearly: BIG MISTAKE… HUGE.

If you’re not learning and growing, then you’re at risk of being left behind in the professional world. It’s important to keep up with the latest trends and techniques so that you can stay ahead of the curve and provide your clients with the best possible service.

Would you like to know which soft skills are most in demand for project managers in companies?

1. Adaptability : 49%
2. Innovative mindset : 48%
3. Collaborative leadership : 42%
4. Awareness of the business environment : 41%
5. Data science skills : 34%
6. Empathy : 34%
7. Development skills : 34%
8. Knowing how different parts of the business work together : 33%
9. Skills and competency development among youth and young adults : 28%
10. Translating macro business objectives to your role : 26%

One way to do this is to participate in professional development workshops and courses. These types of events can offer you the chance to learn new skills and develop your knowledge base, which will help you to stay ahead of the curve and provide the best possible service to your clients.

It’s also important to stay up to date with the latest trends in project management. By learning about new techniques and tools, you can help to improve your efficiency and productivity as a professional.

You should also, be aware of the business environment in which you work. By understanding the pressures that your clients face and how they can impact your work, you’ll be able to provide them with the best possible service.

Finally, it’s important to have skills and competencies that are in demand among professionals in your field. By taking part in training events, you can develop these skills and ensure that you’re able to meet the demands of your clients.

Making sure you have the right development skills can help you stay ahead of the curve and provide your clients with the best possible service. Resources like online courses and workshops can help you to learn new techniques and develop your knowledge base. Learning about the business environment in which you work can also help you to provide better service to your clients. Finally, having skills and competencies that are in demand can help you to stand out from the competition.

Conclusion

By learning about new techniques and tools, staying up to date with the latest trends, and being aware of the business environment in which you work, you can provide your clients with the best possible service and keep your employability at the highest level.