Here's how you can master the essential skills for a successful project manager in the IT industry.

The ability to be able to apply concepts and take learnings from one project to the next is key. So even though I don't code, I can ask the right questions for those in the detail coding. Sometimes it requires the 'simple' questions that result in a lightbulb moment, and this is only possible by having an understanding of the technical aspect. Having no knowledge or showing no interest at all, likely will hinder the success of the project because you are the one in front of stakeholders and if you can't explain simple aspects, they will lose trust in the project. So, you don't need to know everything and can call in the experts as needed, but you definitely need some level of knowledge.

Communication and collaboration are the 2 C's I shout out about constantly. If you're questioning whether you need to tell something, it means you need to communicate. The level to which you communicate and the detail you provide will likely differ to the different stakeholders but the fact you need to communicate will not. The creation of a stakeholder map helps keep the recipients of your communication at hand, so you don't miss anyone out. I always like to imagine I'm in the stakeholders shoes, and ask the question 'what would I like to know if I was them?', and that helps immensely in understanding what level of detail to provide

The most important thing when bringing in agile principles into a project is to focus on taking the bits that make sense to your project. Many people focus on implementing a single theory, when in fact they all have similar principles and different formats and therefore selecting the most appropriate bits will showcase your ability as a expert in agility. You can bring agility into a more traditional project as well, because what are change requests if not being agile and adapting. Understandably, the more traditional lengthy process of managing change does not showcase agility but having a quick turnaround on any adaptation is, and what does this require? Communication & Collaboration, often and valuable

Everyday is a learning day - that's what we tell others and that's what we should tell ourselves. I find certifications good at showcasing knowledge but experience is more important and being able to apply the knowledge in reality. When learning, I prefer courses because it means I can learn practical 'how to' tips and learn off others, be it their challenges or their success. Self-study in the form of constant video watching is very boring for me, and I don't really learn as much but give me an article on an example of it being applied, and I have learnt something invaluable Human interaction is key to learning for me, either through in person learning or personal stories