Stay Sharp, Stay Relevant: Continuous professional development keeps you updated on industry trends, so you can make sure you possess the skills needed to lead effectively and meet project goals.
Seek Out Learning Opportunities: There are plenty of places to find learning opportunities—conferences, certifications, workshops, online courses, or networking events can all expand your expertise in project management.
Time Management for Learning: Balancing work and development is tricky, but you can carve out regular time by scheduling learning blocks, using your breaks and downtime, and incorporating learning into your daily tasks.
Finding The Right Opportunities: Opportunities can present themselves via many avenues: you can leverage professional associations, subscribe to newsletters and blogs, and check for any employer-sponsored programs.
As a project manager, it’s in your interest to make sure your team has the necessary skills and knowledge to do their best work on the project. But what about you? What about your own professional development as a project manager? If you don't make it a priority, you might find yourself quickly falling behind your peers.
In this article, I’ll look at how you can find professional development opportunities and carve some time out of your busy schedule for it.
Why Is Professional Development Important For Project Managers?
Professional development is crucial for project managers because it ensures you can stay current with industry trends, improve your skills, and lead your project team successfully.
Through continuous learning and growth, you’ll also improve your ability to manage projects, handle challenges, and contribute to the overall success of projects and initiatives.
Here are some more reasons why professional development is important for project managers:
- Helps with adaptability to change: The field of project management is constantly evolving. Professional development helps you stay updated on new methodologies, tools, and best practices, so you can adapt as necessary. It can also help reinforce fundamentals like project planning, agile methodologies, project scheduling, and project scope management.
- Improves your skills: Ongoing learning opportunities allow you to expand your skills in areas like leadership, communication, management principles, and technical proficiency. All of these are essential for managing diverse projects and team members.
- Improves project outcomes: With advanced skills and knowledge in your toolbelt, you can lead projects more effectively. This often results in better project outcomes and project success, including higher quality, reduced risks, increased efficiency, and (maybe) happier stakeholders.
- Increases career advancement opportunities: Engaging in professional development can open doors to project management career growth opportunities like promotions, higher salaries, or specialized roles. It also enhances your marketability to potential employers.
Types Of Professional Development
Let’s take a look at some types of professional development that you may want to check out:
1. Conferences
Project management conferences bring together industry experts, thought leaders, and peers to discuss trends, tools, and best practices. They can provide opportunities for networking, learning about innovations, and gaining insights into emerging project management methodologies.
Some examples of conferences include the Project Management Institute's Global Summit and Scrum Alliance’s Global Scrum Gathering.
2. Certifications
Project management certifications such as the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification and Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) can be a great way to develop your skills and expertise.
They often involve structured learning and exams, covering frameworks like PMI’s Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) or focused on agile certifications such as Certified Scrum Master (CSM).
Certificate programs and similar credentials can boost your credibility as a project manager, provide a competitive advantage, and sometimes lead to higher salaries.
3. Workshops
Workshops offer hands-on, practical learning experiences focused on specific skills or tools, such as risk management, leadership skills, communication, or new project management software.
They are often shorter and more interactive than conferences, which may be good if you are under a time-crunch for specific tasks for a project you are managing, or if you’re looking for a lean way to approach your professional development activities.
Workshops can be found through professional associations, training providers, or in-house training programs.
4. Online Courses
Online project management courses provide learning options that are more flexible than in-person courses. They’ll often allow project managers to study at their own pace, and they cover a wide range of topics from foundational skills to advanced techniques.
You’ll be able to find both free and paid options on platforms like Coursera, LinkedIn Learning, or project management-specific sites like the Project Management Institute (PMI) and us, The Digital Project Manager.
Many courses also offer prep for specific certification exams, and some offer their own certificates of completion, which can add value to a project manager's resume.
Online courses often have activities that cater to a variety of learners and can provide an excellent foundation to develop project management skills.
How To Make Time For Professional Development

Finding time for professional development can be challenging when you have a busy schedule and tight timelines to deliver on. In fact, it’s probably the last thing on your mind.
Here are some practical tips to help make time for professional development:
- Set clear goals: Identify specific professional development goals and align them with your career objectives. This will help you focus on relevant opportunities and motivate you to make time for them.
- Schedule regular learning blocks: Treat professional development as a priority by scheduling dedicated time for it on your calendar, just like you would for meetings or project deadlines. Consider setting aside an hour a week or a day each month, depending on your availability.
- Utilize breaks and downtime: Use short breaks or downtime in your day to engage in quick learning activities, such as listening to podcasts, reading articles, or watching short videos on relevant topics. You don’t need to spend hours on your professional development activities; 15-20 minutes may be all you need.
- Take advantage of online learning: Online courses and webinars are flexible options that allow you to learn at your own pace. You can access these materials anytime it fits into your busy schedule.
- Incorporate learning into daily tasks: Look for opportunities to learn on the job. For example, if you’re implementing a new tool, take a course or read a guide on its advanced features. This way, you’re developing skills directly related to your current projects.
- Combine learning with networking: Why not accomplish two things at once? Attend industry events or join local professional groups where you can learn and network simultaneously. Many events offer both formal learning sessions and networking opportunities, so you can maximize your time.
Best Practices For Finding Professional Development Opportunities
To find valuable professional development opportunities as a project manager, it helps to be proactive and strategic.
Here are some best practices to consider when seeking opportunities:
- Leverage professional associations: Try joining organizations like the Project Management Institute (PMI) or the International Project Management Association (IPMA), which offer resources such as courses, certifications, and events tailored to project managers.
- Network with peers and mentors: Connect with other project managers in your field to learn about the latest trends and opportunities. Mentors can also provide guidance on which certifications, events, or courses are most valuable for your career path. Attend local meetups, webinars, or virtual events to expand your network and discover new development resources.
- Subscribe to industry newsletters and blogs: You can stay updated on industry trends and opportunities for development by subscribing to newsletters from reputable sources, such as PMI, The Digital Project Manager, or other project management-focused blogs. These newsletters often highlight upcoming conferences, workshops, and webinars, as well as offer best practices and tips directly in the email.
- Check employer-sponsored programs: Many organizations offer professional development funds or internal training programs. Reach out to your HR department or manager to inquire about which resources may be available and take advantage of these when possible.
- Consult reviews and recommendations: Your time is valuable. Before committing to a course or event, check reviews or ask for recommendations from others in your network. This can help you find high-quality, reputable programs that align with your needs and potentially save you time and money.
- Plan ahead and budget for development: Identify professional development opportunities in advance (if you can), particularly if they require travel or a significant time investment. Planning early can also help you allocate the necessary funds or seek employer support for fees.
- Be agile and open to new opportunities: Sometimes development opportunities just land on our doorstep. Maybe you see a gap or hear of an opportunity to volunteer. Be open to taking these opportunities as they come along—they may also be great professional development opportunities in disguise.
Join For More Professional Development Opportunities
Create a tailored professional development plan by actively seeking and evaluating opportunities that align with your career goals and learning preferences.
One place to start is our membership community, where you can connect with other digital project managers in Slack and get access to 100+ templates, samples, and examples.