It’s a new year and hopefully you’re revved up to make this a pivotal year in your project management career. As we set our sights on the future, let’s focus on securing the bag and creating a positive impact on our professional trajectory.

Picture yourself paving a path of strategic alignment with your career, lifestyle and overall well-being; this alignment makes financial prosperity inevitable. There’s so much opportunity in the workplace right now, whether you’re in corporate america, an entrepreneur or government, there is a place for you to succeed.

If you want to secure the bag in 2024, it’s time to leverage your strengths and manifest the career excellence you envision. 

How to secure the bag this year.

Securing the bag this year is going to take effort! Think beyond the basics of having project management experience and skills, that’s a given. To really set yourself up for success this year, think about the positive impact you can bring to your project management career by leveling up your approach in leadership and communication.

According to PMI’s Pulse, over 50% of project leaders agree that effective communication with stakeholders is the most critical factor that determines project success. 

By significantly improving your approach in leadership and communication, as you move throughout your career, you’ll have a set of unique success metrics based on more than just numbers and the delivery of successful projects. The magic comes when you’re able to motivate your team and clearly communicate objectives in a distinct and effective way. Focus on the things that set you apart, that’s how you can secure the bag.

Navigating the project management landscape in 2024

Here are some key skills to improve on to successfully navigate the project management landscape this year. 

Continuous Learning:

Stay ahead of the game by continuing to learn new methodologies, frameworks, technologies, and techniques to manage different types of projects. Ongoing development is key to getting ahead. 

Networking:

Your network is your net worth, we’ve all heard the saying and let me tell you, it’s definitely true! Work towards building a hefty network by attending conferences, summits, and simply connecting with people online who are on a similar track or more advance track than you. Also connect with people who you can teach, paying it forward always presents good karma.  

Adaptability:

Being adaptable is huge in project management especially with tech and product-based projects. Learning how to be agile and working through constantly changing requirements is an essential skill to have in 2024. 

Technology Integration:

I’ve experienced first-hand the changes and challenges associated with project management and integrating different technologies. This is another essential skill to have if you want to navigate the project management landscape more efficiently. Think collaboration tools, PM software, middleware to integrate data from different platforms as well as communications tools.  

Risk Management:

Develop a proactive approach to identify risks and quickly yet thoroughly come up with mitigation strategies. However, this comes with a lot of practice and experience in working on different projects. With experience you can almost predict certain risks or at least know the appropriate questions to ask to identify risks quickly. 

Strategic Thinking:

Your project and its alignment with organizational goals should always be at the forefront of your thinking. While it’s good to know how to manage a project from start to finish, on budget and on time, none of it matters if the project does not address a specific business objective.

So, thinking more strategically about your projects ultimately helps you to manage projects better.

2024 project management conference in New Orleans

Be sure to get your tickets to the Women of Project Management conference. Tickets go on sale February 1st and the event dates are July 2-3, leading up to Essence Fest.

Attending this conference is a great way to network with Black women in project management and women looking to pivot into the project management profession. Women from all over the world at different levels in their careers will be in attendance ready and willing to connect and share knowledge.

You never know, this could be your chance to get that much closer to your securing your bag this year.

By, Airess Rembert, PMP, Member of Women Of Project Management & Blogger at The Nerd Bae

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If you're new to our community, Women Of Project Management is the only community created to support & amplify the voices of women & women of color in every specialty of the project management industry worldwide. We support women in every stage of their career, learn more at Women Of Project Management.