![[Featured image] An aspiring project manager reviews project management skills to learn.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/6Wg8XdpTnu6JfqHeTPVf6Y/20a6a8be715514eb8d46862cdeaede4c/GettyImagesProjectLaptop.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
12 Key Project Management Skills
You'll want to have a basic understanding of project management principles to be a good project manager, but workplace skills are just as important.
July 20, 2021
Article
Discover career advancement opportunities in project management, from mentoring the next generation of project managers to leading innovative projects. Explore the possibilities here.
Build project management skills and explore your career trajectory
University of Michigan
Skills you'll gain: Talent Management, Team Motivation, Team Building, Teamwork, Team Management, Talent Pipelining, Influencing, Team Leadership, People Development, Motivational Skills, Employee Onboarding, Employee Coaching, Conflict Management, Talent Recruitment, Performance Review, Employee Engagement, Interviewing Skills, Persuasive Communication, Leadership, Business Leadership
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Skills you'll gain: Communication Planning, Stakeholder Analysis, Project Documentation, Stakeholder Management, Team Management, Team Motivation, Document Management, People Management, Organizational Leadership, Team Building, Project Management, Stakeholder Communications, Communication Strategies, Accountability, Project Coordination, Delegation Skills, Communication, Project Planning
Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months
University of California, Irvine
Skills you'll gain: Project Schedules, Project Planning, Stakeholder Management, Communication Planning, Project Implementation, Earned Value Management, Agile Methodology, Agile Project Management, Stakeholder Communications, Project Scoping, Work Breakdown Structure, Project Management, Program Management, Conflict Management, Project Coordination, Milestones (Project Management), Resource Utilization, Resource Planning, Project Documentation, Leadership
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Advancing your career in project management can open up opportunities to take on senior roles, earn a higher salary, and see innovative projects through to completion. Consider building high-impact skills like leading teams, working with the latest technologies, using different project management methodologies, and communicating effectively with stakeholders. Explore the following resources as you advance your project management career:
Find your career track: Project Management Career Paths: Explore Roles & Specializations
Hear from an expert: How to Use GenAI to Advance Your Career: Insight from Coursera's Former CEO
Watch on YouTube: Project Manager Career Path - Steps to Success
Ready to start learning? Explore our catalog of project management courses or accelerate your career growth with a Coursera Plus subscription. When you enroll in either the monthly or annual option, you’ll get access to over 10,000 courses.
Generally, yes. Program managers oversee programs, which can consist of many simultaneous projects. However, project managers with years of experience may have more senior titles than program managers, and program managers are not always the direct manager of the project manager. It should be noted that organizations may also use program and project manager interchangeably.
Yes, project managers and program managers often work together, especially in larger organizations or complex projects. The project manager often works with the program manager to determine project goals, acquire resources, and build project teams. These roles are distinct, in that project managers lead individual projects, while program managers lead groups of projects called programs. In addition, program managers can manage several project managers.
Agile is a style of project management that emphasizes completing projects in small increments. It is often used for projects where some change or unpredictability is expected. Scrum is one of several different methods used to implement that style. Kanban and Extreme Programming (XP) are also considered different Agile methodologies.
Read more: Agile vs. Scrum: How to Choose the Best Method