Managing People with Power Skills from edX

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.

What's inside

Learning objectives

At the end of the project management course, learners will gain the prerequisites to:
Review the key interpersonal skills necessary to effectively manage projects
Define who are the stakeholders and how we interact with them in predictive environment vs. adaptive environment
Apply techniques used to effectively handle conflicts and inform stakeholders in the context of risk management

Analyze the factors of resource planning and project team management
Recognize the key techniques to work with vendors as a part of the procurement process
Discover the key elements that make for a strong communications plan

At the end of the project management course, learners will gain the prerequisites to:
Review the key interpersonal skills necessary to effectively manage projects
Define who are the stakeholders and how we interact with them in predictive environment vs. adaptive environment
Apply techniques used to effectively handle conflicts and inform stakeholders in the context of risk management
Analyze the factors of resource planning and project team management
Recognize the key techniques to work with vendors as a part of the procurement process
Discover the key elements that make for a strong communications plan

Syllabus

Week 1: The first week starts with the hard fact about soft skills: they are needed to be an effective project manager. Probably considered one of the most critical project management skill, this lesson will delve into the renaming of soft skills as power skills within the PMI® Talent Triangle® and will also make the connection to the People domain of the project management professional (PMP)® certification exam. Additionally, this lesson will provide a foundational overview of the important interpersonal skills to be successful in managing projects, working with project teams and stakeholders.

Week 2: The second week will dive into explaining the concept of stakeholders–who they are, sharing the vision with them and understanding the PM’s sphere of influence. This week will also include strategies in people management in the context of predictive projects vs. agile projects, such as scrum.

Week 3: The third week puts focus on resource management: the people, supplies, equipment, materials to get the job done. Participants will learn about the role of the PM, the necessary power skills (same as in stakeholder management), and key concepts related to resource management such as leading vs. managing, determining the motivations of stakeholders, resolving conflict, managing virtual teams and recognizing and rewarding team members for a job well done.

Week 4: The fourth and final week details the importance of communications: getting the right information, to the right people, at the right time, and in the right format. Participants will learn about the difference of effective communications vs. efficient communications and the PM’s role in all of this.

This competency is so important that it makes up 42% of the PMP exam. Learners will gain an understanding of the domain as it relates to the predictive environment as well as how it relates to agile environment. Learners who enroll in the entire comprehensive training program will earn the necessary PDUs required for eligibility to sit for the PMP certification exam and maintain their certification requirements for those who are PMP certified. This course can also be applied towards the CAPM certification. In this PMP training course taught by an authorized training partner Instructor, learners will have access to study materials, practice exams, and delve into topics for the experienced project manager and program manager. While the focus is for PMP exam preparation, PMP certification holders get the added benefit of obtaining professional development units (PDUs) that meet the global equivalent of contact hours as defined by the Project Management Institute, Inc.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Covers interpersonal techniques which are of essence in effective project management

Discusses the soft skills needed for effective stakeholder management

Suitable for industry professionals looking to expand their knowledge of stakeholder management

Taught by instructors with experience in the field

Earn PDUs towards PMP certification

Reviews summary

Outstanding power skills management

Learners say this is an amazing course. Reviewers were very happy with the tools and tricks that were taught in the course. The course was deemed easy to understand. Reviewers especially enjoyed the videos and lesson summaries.

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Managing People with Power Skills with these activities:

Read the PMBOK® Guide on soft skills

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This activity will help you gain a deeper understanding of soft skills in project management.

Browse courses on PMBOK® Guide

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Read the chapter on soft skills in the PMBOK® Guide.
Take notes on the key concepts.
Summarize the key concepts in your own words.

Revisit soft skills as hard skills

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This activity will help you understand the importance of soft skills in project management and how they are essential for success.

Browse courses on Soft Skills

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Review the definition of soft skills and hard skills.
Identify the soft skills that are most important for project managers.
Develop a plan for improving your soft skills.

Complete a set of practice questions on soft skills in project management

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This activity will help you test your understanding of soft skills in project management.

Browse courses on Soft Skills

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Find a set of practice questions on soft skills in project management.
Complete the practice questions.
Review your answers.

Four other activities

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Show all seven activities

Attend a PMI® chapter meeting

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This activity will help you connect with other project managers and learn about best practices.

Browse courses on Project Management

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Find a PMI® chapter meeting in your area.
Attend the meeting.
Network with other project managers.
Learn about best practices in project management.

Develop a stakeholder management plan

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This activity will help you develop a plan for managing stakeholders in your projects.

Browse courses on Stakeholder Management

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Identify the stakeholders in your project.
Analyze the stakeholders' needs and expectations.
Develop strategies for managing the stakeholders.
Create a stakeholder management plan.

Read Emotional Intelligence 2.0

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This book provides insights into how emotional intelligence can be used to improve project outcomes.

View Melania on Amazon

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Read the book Emotional Intelligence 2.0.
Take notes on the key concepts.
Apply the concepts to your own life and work.

Develop a training program on soft skills for project managers

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This activity will help you develop your skills in training and development.

Browse courses on Soft Skills

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Identify the learning objectives for the training program.
Develop the content for the training program.
Create the training materials.
Deliver the training program.
Evaluate the training program.

Career center

Learners who complete Managing People with Power Skills will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Program Manager

Program Managers are responsible for overseeing multiple projects and ensuring that they are all aligned with the organization's strategic goals. They work with project managers to develop and execute project plans, and they track progress and make adjustments as needed. This comprehensive course covers both predictive and agile environments, meaning that it can help people aiming to become Program Managers succeed regardless of their preferred working style. As it covers the material of the PMP exam as well as PDUs for those who already hold the certification, Program Managers can use this course to excel at their jobs and remain up-to-date.

See salaries and explore the career path for Program Manager

Business Analyst

Business Analysts work with businesses to identify and solve problems. They use their analytical skills to assess the current state of a business and to develop recommendations for improvement. This course provides a strong foundation in interpersonal skills and stakeholder management, meaning that Business Analysts can learn to effectively communicate their findings to stakeholders and build strong relationships with their clients.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Product Manager

Product Managers are responsible for the development and launch of new products. They work with engineers, designers, and marketing teams to ensure that products meet the needs of customers. This course provides a strong foundation in communications as well as stakeholder management, meaning that Product Managers can learn to effectively communicate their vision to stakeholders and build strong relationships with their teams.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Operations Manager

Operations Managers are responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of an organization. They work to ensure that the organization is running smoothly and that all departments are working together effectively. This course provides a strong foundation in interpersonal skills and conflict resolution, meaning that Operations Managers can learn to effectively manage relationships with employees and build a positive work environment.

See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Manager

Consultant

Consultants work with organizations to help them improve their performance. They use their expertise to identify problems and to develop and implement solutions. This course provides a strong foundation in communications and negotiation, meaning that Consultants can learn to effectively communicate their findings to clients and build strong relationships with them.

See salaries and explore the career path for Consultant

IT Manager

IT Managers are responsible for overseeing the IT systems of an organization. They work to ensure that the systems are running smoothly and that the organization's data is secure. This course provides a strong foundation in communications and stakeholder management, meaning that IT Managers can learn to effectively communicate their vision to stakeholders and build strong relationships with their teams.

See salaries and explore the career path for IT Manager

Entrepreneur

Entrepreneurs are people who start and run their own businesses. They are responsible for all aspects of their business, from developing the product or service to marketing and sales. This course provides a strong foundation in communications and negotiation, meaning that Entrepreneurs can learn to effectively communicate their vision to stakeholders and build strong relationships with their customers and partners.

See salaries and explore the career path for Entrepreneur

Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers are responsible for developing and executing marketing campaigns. They work to create brand awareness and generate leads for their organizations. This course provides a strong foundation in communications and stakeholder management, meaning that Marketing Managers can learn to effectively communicate their vision to stakeholders and build strong relationships with their teams.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Manager

Project Manager

Project Managers are the people who plan, execute, and close projects. They are responsible for ensuring that projects are completed on time, within budget, and to the required quality standards. This course provides foundational interpersonal skills that can help Project Managers be successful in managing projects, working with project teams and stakeholders. With stakeholders being 42% of the PMP exam, this course is a great way to prepare to pass the exam and to gain the practical skills needed to become a successful Project Manager.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Sales Manager

Sales Managers are responsible for leading and motivating sales teams. They work to develop and execute sales strategies, and they also oversee the performance of their teams. This course provides a strong foundation in communications and negotiation, meaning that Sales Managers can learn to effectively communicate their vision to their teams and build strong relationships with their customers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sales Manager

Customer Service Manager

Customer Service Managers are responsible for overseeing the customer service operations of an organization. They work to ensure that customers are satisfied with their experience and that the organization is meeting their needs. This course provides a strong foundation in interpersonal skills and conflict resolution, meaning that Customer Service Managers can learn to effectively manage relationships with customers and build a positive work environment.

See salaries and explore the career path for Customer Service Manager

HR Manager

HR Managers are responsible for managing the human resources of an organization. They work to recruit, hire, and develop employees, and they also oversee employee benefits and compensation. This course provides a strong foundation in interpersonal skills and conflict resolution, meaning that HR Managers can learn to effectively manage relationships with employees and build a positive work environment.

See salaries and explore the career path for HR Manager

Nonprofit Manager

Nonprofit Managers are responsible for overseeing the operations of nonprofit organizations. They work to ensure that the organization is fulfilling its mission and that it is meeting the needs of its community. This course provides a strong foundation in interpersonal skills and conflict resolution, meaning that Nonprofit Managers can learn to effectively manage relationships with employees and build a positive work environment.

See salaries and explore the career path for Nonprofit Manager

Teacher

Teachers are responsible for educating students in a variety of subjects. They work to create a positive learning environment and to help students reach their full potential. This course may be useful for Teachers as it provides a strong foundation in interpersonal skills and conflict resolution, meaning that Teachers can learn to effectively manage relationships with students and build a positive learning environment.

See salaries and explore the career path for Teacher

Social Worker

Social Workers help people to overcome challenges and to improve their lives. They work with individuals, families, and communities to provide support and resources. This course may be useful for Social Workers as it provides a strong foundation in interpersonal skills and conflict resolution, meaning that Social Workers can learn to effectively manage relationships with clients and build a positive working environment.

See salaries and explore the career path for Social Worker