7 Ways Your PM Skills Are Transferable in the 'Real World'

Elizabeth is a freelance writer and project manager living and working in London. She runs The Otobos Group, a project communications consultancy specializing in project management.

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Topics: Career Development, Leadership, Risk Management

We all know that project management skills are essential tools for the workplace, helping us to help colleagues get their work done on time, within budget, and to the satisfaction of stakeholders.

However, once a project manager, always a project manager. If you’re anything like me, then you’ll know those skills are not confined to the office—they can be incredibly useful in everyday life as well. Once I sat and thought about how I apply my project management skills outside of work, I couldn’t stop thinking of examples. Here are my favorites…

1. Party planning

PM skill: Requirements management

Whether it’s a birthday party, anniversary event or some other celebration, project managers know how to organize a bash. It’s really important to get the requirements right. You might be the beneficiary of the party, or you might be organizing it for someone else. Either way, it’s worth taking the time to identify what would make the event the success you want it to be.

Last year, I organized my own 20^th wedding anniversary party, and the requirements were pretty simple. We wanted good food; a nice, atmospheric location with outside space; and some kind of entertainment for the many children who came with their parents, so the adults had enough time for a proper catch up.

When you know the project requirements, you can …

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