In all areas of business today, competitive pressures and the associated demand for results is intense. Now, more than ever, there is a need to accomplish your work with leaner staffs, limited resources and cross-functional teams, in the face of constantly evolving technology and business directions. A significant portion of business activities is framed in the form of projects - defined activities designed to accomplish specific results within established timeframes and resource budgets.

Performing successfully in this project-oriented environment requires the ability to:

•  Communicate (learn and share the correct information accurately and completely)

•  Analyze (understand the implications of information gleaned)

•  Motivate (encourage ourselves and others to devote the time and effort necessary to achieve desired project results

However, while many people find themselves working on or managing projects, often these people have received no formal training in the skills, techniques and processes necessary to plan, organize, guide and control work successfully in these environments.

While reading books and articles can introduce you to some of the fundamental elements of successful project management, attending training in a live classroom environment can provide you with a deeper understanding and appreciation of the practices that will help you achieve project success. You will realize the greatest benefits from training programs that:

•  Emphasize not just what to do, but why to do it. Ultimately, you will use particular project management practices because you believe they will help you perform essential functions successfully, not because they are included in a list of best practices.

•  Address all aspects of project planning and performance. Successful projects are achieved not only by correctly implementing a well thought-out initial plan, but also by identifying and responding to unexpected situations that arise during project performance.

•  Emphasize practical applications. Though the benefit of using a particular technique may be clear to you, it's not unusual to encounter resistance when you attempt to introduce it in the workplace. Knowing what to expect and how to deal with it will increase your chances for success.

•  Explore each topic in several ways. Successfully following a particular practice requires that you thoroughly understand and believe in it. This level of understanding and belief is enhanced if, in addition to having the technique explained, you can ask questions about aspects not clear to you, use it in simple exercises and apply it in real-world situations.

In addition to the program format and content, look for resources that have the following qualities:

•  Credibility.   Look for a program leader who has a lot of firsthand experience under his or her belt.  There is no substitute for a history of having personally managed hundreds of projects - how else is a trainer to know what works and what doesn't?

•  An emphasis on good "people skills."  It really doesn't matter how well a project manager understands the technical side of project management, if he or she can't relate to and inspire people.  An understanding of the mechanics of project management - and an ability to whip out charts and graphs - is only the beginning.  A good program leader creates an exciting training environment, communicates well, and uses humor to help people relax.  After all, project management itself demands good people skills; the program leader must be able to convey this fact - and demonstrate it by example.

•  A comfortable, non-threatening learning environment.   Up to 90% of the training session's benefit comes during the question-and-answer session.  Participants must feel comfortable asking questions, even questions they may fear are dumb, cynical or negative.  The program leader may know project management works because she's done it for years, but program participants won't believe this until they can think it through themselves and explore it from every angle. 

Perhaps the most critical quality to look for in a project management trainer and consultant is one that's hard to quantify: passion .  A person who has a fervent belief in the power of project management is much more likely to get others enthusiastic about it.