In my nearly 50 years in the working world, project management skills are among the most—if not the most—universal skill sets individuals need throughout their careers, across all types of organizations. Whether managing small personal projects or leading complex organizational initiatives, Amberton University’s Project Management programs can help you build the expertise to succeed. We encounter “projects” under many names in our personal and professional lives.
In fact, when I was a kid, my mother used to post a “jobs (aka projects) list” on the refrigerator. Whether we call it a job, a project, a program, an operation, an assignment, a campaign, or a play, it still carries all the characteristics of what we know as a project.
Formally, a project is defined as a unique venture with a beginning and an end, executed to meet one or more goals — or, stated differently, a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result. A project could be anything: cleaning out my garage, raising funds for a church youth program, building a software program to optimize Amazon delivery routes, or planning academic course schedules. Whatever the project, there are key project management skills we all must apply. These include:
Skill Set #1: Define the End Objective
First, we must determine what we intend to accomplish. What’s our end goal?
For example, I REALLY need to clean out my garage! Initially, I thought the objective was simply to clean it out, but upon reflection, it’s also to reorganize the remaining contents. This expanded objective shifts the scope of work — and how I’ll define being “done.”
Skill Set #2: Break Down the Work
Once the goal is clear, we identify the work required. Following the adage, “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time,” I broke it down:
- Step 1: Clean out the garage contents.
- Step 2: Reorganize the remaining items.
Each step gets broken down even further, such as sorting items into what to throw away, donate, or keep, until the tasks are manageable chunks I can tackle, ideally about four hours at a time.
Skill Set #3: Identify Required Resources
Next, I identify what resources I’ll need. Besides my time, I’ll probably need plastic tubs for storage (maybe 20 tubs at $5 each) and possibly rent a truck to haul donations to Goodwill. Planning for these needs upfront ensures a smoother project execution.
Skill Set #4: Execute the Project
Now, it’s time to work. There are two ways to approach it:
- Sequential Planning: Laying out a logical step-by-step schedule.
- Sprint Planning: Tackling the most valuable work areas first.
Either way, I prioritize based on availability, value, and momentum to keep the project moving.
Nontraditional students like you don’t have the luxury of taking summers off. It’s prudent to reach your graduation requirements sooner rather than later. The heat of summer doesn’t have to distract you from the goal or deplete your motivation. Remember this and you’ll stay on top of your game when you continue to work.
Skill Set #5: Plan for Change
Change always happens! I need to account for potential changes, like wanting to build a woodworking shop or buy a new 2025 Z06 Corvette. Both would radically change my current project plan. Flexibility is a critical part of project management.
Skill Set #6: Determine When You’re “Done”
Finally, how will I know when the project is complete?
It’s not just when the garage is cleaned and organized — it’s when everything is sorted correctly, packed into labeled tubs, neatly stored, and (bonus!) we can even park our cars inside again. That’s true project completion.
Final Thoughts
I hope you enjoyed this little episode, which was designed to convince you that everyone needs to develop basic project management skills. These project management skills help you successfully manage the many projects, jobs, programs, operations, and campaigns you’ll encounter personally and professionally throughout your life and career.
If you’re ready to strengthen your project management skills further, explore Amberton University’s Project Management courses, designed for working adults like you.
Enjoy the journey!
