Learn How to Become a Better PRINCE2 Project Manager

Do you dream of becoming the best project manager that you can be? This is a job that gives you the chance to make systems and processes better for other people, but are you currently doing all that you can to do to reach the highest level?

If you feel that you have more to offer than you are currently showing then how will you become better at your job? The good news is that there are some smart ways of becoming a better project manager that you should know about, with the advice given by Knowledge Tree Training.

Consider the Needs of Your End Users

It can be easy to simply look at the technical side of the project and forget about the people that it will affect. This could lead to your new process being technically fine but not really meeting the needs of the users. If this happens then the end-users won’t be happy with what you have done.

Therefore, why not involve them more in the whole process? This isn’t going to add much time to the project if you do it well. It might even save you time in the long run, as there will be less need to make changes to what has been done so far.

Looking after your end-users will help you to feel good about what you do at work. However, this isn’t the only reason for acting in this way. It is also worth building up a strong relationship with the business area. You never know when you might need to ask them for some help in one way or another.

Get More Training

The number of different things that you need to master as a project manager can seem daunting at first. This is a job that involves many different skills. The chances are that you have a number of areas that you need to work on when you first move into this role.

Therefore, you should look to get as much training done on a regular basis as you can. Sorting out your PRINCE2 Course in London is a solid start, of course. This gives you the building blocks for becoming a professional project manager who can handle any sort of project.

After this, is it a question of working out what else you need to learn. With so many diverse areas to cover, you might decide to spend some time drawing up your own personal development plan. This can be a huge help in allowing you to concentrate on improving the most important things first.

Go the Extra Mile

No matter what type of project you work on, there is usually the opportunity to go the extra mile. This can mean spending more time on gathering requirements, giving more people the chance to state their opinion in a workshop or some other approach.

The important point is that you are focussed on delivering the very best project that you can. You don’t want to just rush off something half-hearted that lets you move on to your next piece of work. Instead, you really want your project to make a positive difference.

This a powerful attitude to take into any role. If you are committed to being a top-quality project manager then you are sure to find ways of showing this. Your willingness to go the extra will definitely shine through at some point if you let it do so.

There is no need to settle for being a mediocre project manager. By putting in your very best efforts you will discover that you get a lot more satisfaction out of your career every day.

How to Deal with Criticism of Your PRINCE2 Project

No-one likes to be criticized for their work. This can be especially hard to take when you have put a lot of effort into a project and feel that this isn’t being recognized by the people who are criticizing you. Yet, the worst thing you can do with criticism is take it in the wrong way.

If you get angry or try to ignore it then you run the risk or getting the same, negative feedback time and time again in the future. So, how should you handle any criticism of your project that comes your way? Can it turn out to a good thing if you take it in the right way?

The first point is to not take this personally. If someone gives poor feedback then this a reflection on your project. In the worst case, they are criticizing your project management skills, rather than you as a person. This is vital because you need to stay professional and not take it on a personal level.

It is also worth remembering that many people will give you constructive criticism because they genuinely want to help you and your team. Sometimes, it will take a big effort for someone to give negative feedback, and this is to be praised and encouraged.

If you feel that the criticism is delivered at a personal level then you are within your rights to go back and ask for it be re-framed in a more professional way. There is a time and place for personal feedback and this isn’t it.

Ask for More Details and Consider It

The first reaction when receiving criticism of any type can be to answer back right away. It can be easy to look at it solely from your point of view. You know why you did what you did but what did it look like from the other person’s point of view?

By going back to ask for more details you are giving yourself a bit of extra time to consider the whole situation. It also gives the person who gave you the feedback the chance to give you some more details, which can be a big help for you.

The more information that you have the better. Don’t jump to conclusions and assume that you know everything before you even start looking into it. Above all, don’t write off the criticism as invalid before you even start to look into it properly.

Improve Your Skills

Why not try to look at this as an opportunity rather than see it as a problem? We have all got elements of our work that we could improve upon. The fact that someone else points this out should be seen as a good thing instead of an issue to instinctively shy away from.

Once you have listened carefully to the poor feedback and considered it, what should you do next? Is it an issue with your own skills that could possibly be sorted out by getting more PRINCE2 London or else brushing up on other skills?

It might also be the case that your team needs to improve in one or more areas. This is something that you should be keen to look into. Quite often, important training needs that might otherwise have gone unnoticed can be picked up in this way. It is in everyone’s best interests that you get your team up to the highest possible level.

Don’t let any sort of criticism of your project slip past you. This might seem unwelcome at first but it could turn out to be the best way of improving your future projects.