What is the best advise you have been given as a Project Manager?

I have currently worked on a few projects of smaller scale and our current PM is amazing and inspired me. I take my CAPM test this week and I am waiting to hear on an Associate PM (entry level) that I interviewed for. So I am hoping to gain the experience I need through that. It makes me nervous as it is in a different department than I am currently in, and I am trying to be prepared. However I enjoy the challenge. I agree leading by example is good advise!

I totally agree. As the common passage says, experience is the best teacher. But of course, being prepared and equipped with knowledge about something is a competitive edge.

Here are my suggestions for you, hope these help:

1/ Project Managent Career Advice (includes free downloadable ebook) - https://www.knowledgetrain.co.uk/resources...t-career-advice

2/ Top 10 Project Management Books - https://www.knowledgetrain.co.uk/resources...ional-bookshelf

3/ Top 15 Agile Project Management Books - https://www.knowledgetrain.co.uk/resources...top-agile-books

It's like to learn and speak a new language. You may be trying to read again and again the books explaining grammar, rules and principles; it's important to do that; but to really fluent in that language and understand subtle or practical things, you need to visit the countries where the language is spoken, talk with the native people, participate in the activities while speaking the language as well as in the language clubs. The books explaining grammar, rules and principles are the PMBOK Guide and other project management books; the countries(and activities) where they speak the language are the projects that are being undertaken using PMI methodology and that you are involved in; whereas the language clubs are the PMI communities where project management knowledge and experience are being shared as well as funs being made using the skills of the profession. I hope this illustration helps you further understand the advice of fellow particiapants.

Hello Rachel, I wish I had known just how important people skills would be in my early years. Most of us strive very hard to perform and prove ourselves as we gain momentum and credibility in our career path. After more than 30 years of managing projects I can tell you what has worked so well for me - the art of communication. Stakeholders want to be heard, to be respected, and to be acknowledged. In my opinion, these skills are some of the most difficult to learn and polish. If you have not already read these, I suggest you take a look at social styles to help you learn to communicate with ANYONE, then take a look at the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People to give you insights on how you might want to conduct yourself. Best Wishes on your journey.

Hi Rachel.

Following is advice I was given AFTER I'd been trying to be a PM for 2-3 years (and wished I been advised earlier):
- always ask for help ie your Program Manager and PMO are there to help including working through problems,
- assume nothing ie challenge every assumption. These will trip you up every time.
- no surprises for management and sponsor. This means you're always informing them of progress and possible issues. This therefore means that you're always on top of what's going on in the project and so demonstrate control and therefore they have confidence in you. And finally it means you learn what is important to each level of management for them to be reporting up. This also means they can better support you (assuming you have a good project organisation).