UMD, USMx: Managing People with Power Skills

As the PMBOK® Guide aptly states, “projects are performed by people and for people,” (page 9, 7th Edition).

People drive projects. Period.

As experienced project managers, we are continuously working with stakeholders to maintain good relationships to ensure that their expectations are in alignment with the goals of the project. Having effective people management skills is a crucial component of project management experience to achieving project success.

Linked to the Leadership skill area of the PMI Talent Triangle® as well as linked to the people domain of the PMP Certification exam, this course will place focus on managing the expectations and relationships of the people involved in projects. To achieve the project goals, it is important to have the knowledge, skills and behaviors needed to guide, motivate and/or direct others. People skills are crucial in achieving success. One way to effectively motivate others is to show them what they can achieve through collaboration and cooperation. Project leaders are constantly helping project stakeholders see the potential for success by demonstrating knowledge, skills and behaviors related to people.

There are a variety of skills that will be covered in the course, such as negotiation, active listening, emotional intelligence, and servant leadership. These powerful skills can be incredibly helpful throughout the lifecycle of your projects, so it’s important that project professionals learn them well.

In this course learners will cover the core interpersonal skills and key techniques to effectively manage the expectations and the relationships with project stakeholders:

Identifying project stakeholders

Planning resource needs

Sharing the vision of the project with your stakeholders

Educating your stakeholders on the methodology and framework used in the project environment and business environment

Keeping your stakeholders informed in the predictive vs. the agile environment

Motivational theories

Addressing interpersonal conflicts

Emotional intelligence

Decision making techniques

Communications management.

Learners will uncover the importance of managing expectations and relationships effectively and how to create a positive work environment and build good relationships with team members. This is an essential skill for any project manager, and this course will focus on how to manage the expectations of others, both internally and externally. By doing so, you can help your team and organization stay productive and successfully meet the goals of the project..

By the end of the course, learners will be able to confidently identify the stakeholders of a project and determine the appropriate strategies to manage expectations and maintain a productive working relationship with team members and all stakeholders. This is an important competency in any industry, whether it be healthcare, information technology, government, private-sector, or non-profit. Additionally, upon successful completion of this course, learners can earn 8 contact hours of project management education or professional development units which are recognized by the Project Management Institute (PMI). A total of 35 contact hours (PDUs) in project management education are a requirement (see PMI.org) to those looking to achieve the Project Management Professional (PMP®) credential. Learners will finish this PMP certification course with increased knowledge of the better practice tips to engage stakeholders and be more than ready to continue their project management and PMP® journey, which we hope completes your certificate with us.