7 vital project management skills to learn

Project management skills will become even more important in an AI-enhanced workforce. Our 2024 ROI of AI report found nearly half of tech leaders feel their organisations lack the skills to implement AI projects. As AI-related productivity soars, that means more in-flight projects for orgs and workers to tackle — and more PM hands on keyboards will be required.

Whether you’re already a Project Manager or simply want to learn how to better support projects on your team,  you can set yourself up for success with these key project management skills.

If you’ve ever led a huge collaboration, you already know project management involves more than checking off a few boxes on a to-do list. Project Managers (PMs) need a combination of hard and soft skills to lead successful initiatives from start to finish.

These abilities allow PMs to juggle projects with tight deadlines and stay on budget. They must also satisfy stakeholders, who often have competing — or even contradictory — priorities. One client might be adamant about using a specific tool, while the IT team insists that it’s a cybersecurity risk. With the right technical expertise, a Project Manager can resolve these types of conflicts and keep everything moving forward.

Every industry relies on Project Managers, not just tech. Filming a movie, building a skyscraper, or just planning an Instagram campaign — all these initiatives need a savvy leader at the helm. But not everyone has the right skills.

In fact, the UK is currently experiencing a PM talent shortage. According to the Association for Project Management(opens new window) (APM), over half (56%) of businesses are struggling to attract new PMs.

Here are a few areas where these skills are in high demand:

Project management professionals have a lot on their shoulders, to put it mildly. Their actions can make the difference between a project succeeding — or totally flopping.

Obviously, you’ll need the right technical skills to support your team. A Project Manager who can’t even recognise basic HTML won’t get far in a tech startup. But interpersonal skills are equally as important. Here are a few abilities to add to your project management toolkit.

The best Project Managers don’t just bark orders at their teams. They know how to motivate employees and help them perform at their best. That might involve mentoring a chronically late employee — maybe they just need a little help with time management — or rallying everyone around a shared mission. When project teams feel supported, they’re more likely to give it their all.

Effective Project Managers are also masters of strategic thinking. They’re focused on long-term success and always think ten steps ahead. For example, a Construction Manager might notice that lumber prices are creeping up and order early, saving the client a fortune.

These soft skills simply can’t be replaced by technology. ChatGPT may be able to give an employee valid advice — in fact, that’s a perfectly legitimate use for it — but it doesn’t have the empathy and human intuition to truly lead teams.

Project Managers are  — if you’ll forgive the old-school analogy — essentially human switchboards. They gather information from all sorts of project stakeholders and make sure it gets to the right person.

Often, this process requires a fair bit of translation. A client may say, “I hate this design,” but what they really mean is, “The layout seems clunky and outdated.” A successful Project Manager uses active listening to interpret this feedback and turn it into something the team can actually apply.

PMs need strong written communication skills, too. Their documents must clearly explain the project requirements, or employees may get confused. They also create accessible reports to keep stakeholders in the loop.

As the old cliche goes, “Time is money.” That’s especially true for complex initiatives, where even the smallest delays can lead to skyrocketing costs. Just look at some of the UK’s failed construction projects. An incomplete “bridge to nowhere”(opens new window) in Warwickshire, for instance, has cost taxpayers millions after supply shortages derailed the original project schedule.

As a Project Manager, the last thing you want to do is miss deadlines — that’s the fastest way to anger your clients. Task prioritisation can keep you on track. You’ll need to break down an undertaking into dozens of smaller tasks and decide how to complete them efficiently.

Project Managers also help teams manage their workloads. Burnout remains a widespread issue, with 91% of UK adults(opens new window) experiencing high or extreme stress levels at some point in the last year. When the pressure builds, a PM can step in to lighten the burden.

Organisational skills are another must-have. Traditional project management often involved paper calendars and handwritten to-do lists. But today, many PMs use software tools like Asana and Trello to stay organised. These programmes let teams plan and track their work in one place. That way, you never have to wonder if your Software Engineer sorted out a bug or if your sales reps are chasing leads.

In a perfect world, every project management certificate would come with a complimentary crystal ball to help PMs predict challenges. But in reality, some issues are impossible to foresee.

That’s why critical thinking skills are a key component of project management. Savvy leaders can look at challenges from many different angles. For example, they may use scenario-based decision-making to weigh possible outcomes and come up with the best solution.

There’s no such thing as a totally risk-free project — if there was, everyone would focus on those areas. But the truth is every initiative comes with uncertainties.

In high-stakes industries like construction, these risks can literally be a matter of life or death. An unexpected storm or poorly secured scaffolding could lead to a catastrophic fall. Even simple tasks have dangers. If you don’t hand over project deliverables on time, for example, you may hurt your reputation — or even lose clients for good.

A Project Manager is responsible for identifying, assessing, and mitigating these risks. While nothing is ever foolproof, simple steps like double-checking safety equipment and building a buffer into the project schedule can go a long way.

Quality control is also part of risk management. Obviously, keeping the project stakeholders happy is a top priority — especially if you’re dealing directly with clients. But you can’t always give them everything they want. For example, if you notice that the project scope is slowly creeping up, it’s probably time to rein it back in. Otherwise, the quality might plummet while your project team scrambles to finish everything on time.

A client or business’s needs can flip like a switch. Budget cuts, new technology, PR debacles — anything can change a project’s direction. You might start with one tool, then suddenly need to pivot if the client decides they want to use AI instead. A few weeks later, they may decide that the AI isn’t working after all, so you’re back to the drawing board.

Experienced Project Managers have flexible mindsets that help them embrace these changes instead of digging in their heels. This adaptability helps them deliver projects successfully, no matter what happens along the way.

They also have the empathy to manage team morale during these transitions. Shifting to a new course can feel incredibly frustrating or scary, especially if the team doesn’t have any say in the matter. But a compassionate PM can gain buy-in and support employees as they adjust to changing expectations.

It’s no secret that team collaboration doesn’t always go smoothly. UK employees spend an average of 1.8 hours a week dealing with workplace conflict(opens new window). Over a long-term project, that can add up to a lot of time not spent working on the initiative itself.

Sometimes, these conflicts are productive — like when employees politely debate the best approach or tool for a project. Other times, warring egos or outright bullying could lead to a toxic work environment. A Project Manager can step in to help team members find common ground and come up with productive solutions together.

You don’t need to go to uni to prepare for a role in this field. Here are a few ways to gain essential project management skills.

Gaining well developed skills independently can be challenging. Sure, you can always practise problem solving or task management by yourself. But without guidance, you might not improve as quickly as you’d like. Or you may waste time by focusing on the wrong skills — like pouring all your energy into your writing when it’s really your organisation skills that are lacking.

A structured apprenticeship can help you avoid these common issues. Multiverse’s fully-funded Project Management programme will help you upskill without leaving your current job. You’ll develop valuable skills you can applying to your projects right away. Plus, you’ll receive one-on-one mentorship from Multiverse’s experienced coaches.

Many organisations also offer short courses in project management methodologies. For example, the Project Management Institute offers a series of Agile certificates(opens new window) to help you learn this popular framework. Similarly, PRINCE2 offers project management training courses(opens new window) for its process-based approach. These credentials are widely recognised by UK employers and can help you demonstrate your expertise.

Chances are, your current employer has at least a few projects in the works. Consider volunteering to oversee one of these internal initiatives. You’ll build your technical project management skills while collaborating with colleagues in new ways – a win-win situation. And, if you can achieve project success, you may even position yourself for a future promotion.

Shadowing experienced Project Managers can also help you upskill. By observing their soft project management skills, you’ll learn how to improve your own approach. For example, you might notice that they use active listening to resolve disputes and decide to practise it yourself. Or you could observe that they have a knack for building trust and ask them for tips.

Don’t feel intimidated by seasoned Project Managers. They’re often eager to share their hard-won wisdom with newcomers. Look for opportunities to meet potential mentors who could help you on your career journey.

For example, you might click with a more experienced PM at a networking event and swap contact details. Or you could build relationships with local professionals on LinkedIn and invite them out for a coffee date. Who knows? These connections could open the door to new career opportunities down the line. At the very least, you can ask for career advice and recommendations for the best project management tools.

Project management forums are another valuable resource for upskillers. LinkedIn(opens new window)’s Project Manager Community is the largest one, currently boasting over 675,000 members. On Reddit, you’ll find r/projectmanagement(opens new window) and the smaller — but still active — r/PMCareers(opens new window). These free communities can help you learn about industry trends and available project management roles.

These days, you won’t find many PMs relying on sticky notes and scribbled to-do lists. Most professionals use project management software, such as:

With so much to learn, you may wonder if developing your project management skills is really worth it. But if you’re interested in a flexible and future-proof career, the answer may be “yes.”

With the explosion of AI(opens new window), you might assume that companies are hiring fewer PMs — or only those with strong technical skills. But that’s not true. Consider that European job adverts(opens new window) are now asking for 2.9 times more human skills than before. This shift suggests employers are placing more value on leadership and other soft skills that AI can’t imitate.

Many of the UK’s fastest-growing industries(opens new window) — such as tech and healthcare — also rely on Project Managers. For example, you could help a hospital develop a new staff training programme or plan a new building wing.

Project management skills are also incredibly versatile. Every sector needs people with strong communication and time management. These abilities are the foundation for any successful project, so they’ll never go out of style.

Many employers are also looking for Project Managers with strong data skills. The Multiverse’s Skills Intelligence Report 2024 found that the average employee spends 36% of their working week on data tasks — yet 57% have limited or no Excel skills. By focusing on in-demand data skills and tools, you can increase your chances of transitioning to new roles.

Project management isn’t as easy as jotting down tasks in a planner. Like an orchestra director, a successful PM must be aware of every instrument and know how to keep everyone in sync. It all starts by developing key skills, including communication, organisation, and conflict resolution.

Of course, you don’t need to be a formal Project Manager to sharpen these skills. Everyone contributes to projects in their everyday roles. By fine-tuning your soft skills, you can become a more productive collaborator.

Are you ready to grow your expertise and take on new leadership roles? Multiverse’s Project Management training pathway will help you upskill at no cost to you. You’ll learn how to establish data governance frameworks, use project management tools, and more.

Fill out our quick application(opens new window) today for more information.