Technology advancements have steadily picked up over the last decade with no signs of slowing down – some of which have impacted how we perform our jobs on a day-to-day basis and has led to some questioning if their career in project management or product management will be in jeopardy in a few years. The short answer is no, but that doesn’t mean it may never happen in the distant future. You need to have a plan on how you will remain relevant as technology continues to transform the way PM tasks are performed in ways that automate parts of the job to optimize efficiency while still leaving some in their current state to allow for human intelligence to thrive.
Let us explore some of the strategies that you can implement for yourself to help you future-proof your PM career.
- Develop a Plan
There is a saying in project management that if you fail to plan you plan to fail. This should not be taken literally but nevertheless, if pays to have a plan because they help keep you focused on a particular objective and ensure you are taking the right steps to achieve an outcome. Your plan should include:
- A long-term career goal (5+ years)
- A short-term career goal (2 – 5 years)
- Professional development skills/certification targets
The long-term career goals provide you with a vision of your future aspirations, whereas the short-term career goals help you with developing specific actions that you need to take that will help you achieve the future aspirations.
- Acquire New Skills
Some professions have fallen victim to automation but with these challenges come new opportunities. Start with understanding the new technologies that your company is looking to adapt and give yourself a head start by learning about them and gaining certification. Certifications always have different tiers, from basic level all the way to advanced – as a PM, you do not have to be certified at an expert level and a basic certification coupled with your own experience in managing project management or product management could be all you need to future-proof your career.
- Embrace Change and be Open to New Opportunities
Change is inevitable in today’s workplace, and it behooves us to accept it because we get to learn things that you otherwise would not have a chance to learn by sticking to doing things the way they used to be done. As companies implement new technological features, adapt your approach and learn more about the new opportunities by researching and working closely with subject matter experts so that you can enhance your skills and flourish in a dynamic work environment. Get out of your comfort zone and agree to take on new opportunities when presented with them as they will help separate you from those that are uninterested in developing their PM skills to be adaptable to newer technologies.
At PM Imperative, we cover the latest trends in Project Management and Product Management. As PM practitioners, we understand the value the Project Managers and Product Managers bring to each organization and that’s why we focus on the most practical strategies that Project and Product Managers can implement immediately. If you found this post useful, be sure to check out our latest book: The PM Imperative – Guide for Leading & Managing Projects, People & Delivering Value. https://pmimperative.com/shop/
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