The Best of PMP Project Management by Jason Wesltland

The Best of PMP Project Management A selection of professional insights from the Blog archive

Since 2008 our project management professionals have been sharing knowledge, experience and learning with online readers via the Project Manager Blog. Their collective wisdom provides a wealth of how to, top tips and best practice advice, for project managers, teams and businesses. To make their writings more accessible we’ve created a series of “Best of” project management topics available free to download and share. Here is a collection of excerpts and insights from blog posts that discuss the challenges and payoffs of undertaking professional PMP certification. Enjoy

Jason Westland CEO ProjectManager.com

7 Questions About PMP Certification ......................................................................................................... 3 Is PMP Certification Good for Your Project Management Career? ............................................................ 6 6 Reasons to Pursue Certification in Project Management ........................................................................ 9 Preparing for the Project Management Professional Exam...................................................................... 11 3 Ways to Lose Money on Your Project Management Certification ......................................................... 14 Why PMP Certification is Not Hard to Maintain ....................................................................................... 16 How to Earn PDUs ..................................................................................................................................... 18 What is PMP Code of Professional Conduct? ............................................................................................ 21 6 Ways to Maximize Your Project Management PMP Certification ......................................................... 22 What is PMP Code of Professional Conduct? ............................................................................................ 25 5 Reasons Why You Should Finish Strong as a PMP.................................................................................. 26 Using Your PMP Training to Influence Others ........................................................................................... 27 The Spirit of PMP Project Management .................................................................................................... 29 Instilling a Sense of Urgency as a Project Management PMP ................................................................... 32 Deal with the Issue Up Front ..................................................................................................................... 32 30 Day Free Software Trial ........................................................................................................................ 34 ProjectManager.com © 2013 All Rights Reserved

7 Questions About PMP Certification There are number of certifications that a Project Manager can obtain. One of the most well known, and valuable certifications comes from the Project Management Institute in the US. This is the Project Management Professional Certification and is currently held by hundreds of thousands of individuals across the globe. Are you thinking of obtaining your Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification but not quite sure where to start? The following frequently asked questions (and answers that are based upon my own experience of obtaining and maintaining my PMP Certification) should provide you with some insight about PMP Certification requirements.

1. What is the Process for Studying for the PMP Exam? There are a number of paths to take when it comes to studying for the PMP exam. The path you choose depends upon your learning style and amount of self-discipline. If you are self-disciplined and can get things done on your own with minimal involvement or coaching from others, then you may want to go down a self-directed learning path. On the other hand, if you need that extra support and accountability that comes from others then you may want to join a study group to learn about PMP Certification. I chose a path somewhere in between the two mentioned above in the form of a Mentor. Most PMI Chapters have an arrangement in place where they will assign someone to you and develop a course of study in order to pass the exam. This provided me with an element of accountability that was also coupled with some flexibility that was able to work with my busy schedule. We would meet for lunch once about every two to three weeks to map out the best course to take. In my case it included reading the PMBOK from cover to cover (yawn) along with a supplemental study aid that would bring a bit of color to this tome. Then, I obtained a CD set that I listened to in my car day in and day out that would provide illustrations and examples that brought the project management concepts to life and made them that much easier to remember. I listened to that CD set so many times that I was able to recite word for word all 8 CDs. The day I passed the exam was a landmark ProjectManager.com ÂŠ 2013 All Rights Reserved

for a couple of reasons…not the least of which I could finally go back to listening to the radio again! Finally, I ordered a sample test with actual exam questions that would provide me with a sense of how the exam would flow. I took the different sections of that test over and over again (different questions each time) until I consistently scored a 90 or above in all areas. I was then ready for the exam.

2. What is the PMP Certification Exam Like? The exam itself was not bad. You go to a nearby facility that administers the exam. Obviously, get a good night’s rest but don’t stress yourself out. If you’ve spent the time mentioned above and been able to pass a sample exam time and time again you will do just fine. There is definitely a place for memorization on the exam. You can’t bring in any type of notes with you so it is good to memorize some of the basics such as the process areas, inputs and outputs, along with some of the formulas that are included in the PMBOK. Once you get to the exam station you do have pencil and paper to work with. I immediately wrote down all those items I had committed to memory so I clear my head to focus on the questions at hand. Something else to keep in mind is that you have to answer questions the way the PMBOK has outlined and not actually what happens in the real world. For example, there may be all types of approval processes outlined in the PMBOK that you may roll your eyes at that would never occur in your company. However, the “ideal” state is what the PMBOK outlines and that’s what the answer will be reflecting. Bring a light snack with you to hold you over during your break and again, don’t stress over the exam. Typically go with your first answer. You have the ability to go back and change answers if you would like and mark questions you want to come back to later. Use tricks you remember from school days (process of elimination, common sense, etc) to answer the questions and you’ll find you will do just fine.

3. How Long Should You Study? If you’re working a full-time job, have a family and other responsibilities you can most likely pace yourself to get all the studying necessary done in 6-8 months. ProjectManager.com © 2013 All Rights Reserved

4. How Much Does it Cost? One question many people want to know about PMP Certification is how much does it cost. All in, I probably spent just under $1,000 for the study aids, exam fees, and of course the lunches I picked up for my mentor! However, many people can do it for typically half this cost depending upon which path they choose to go down.

5. Is PMP Certification Worth It? I have to say unequivocally that PMP certification is worth the time and money invested. On average, a PMP certified Project Manager will make around $10,000 more per year than their non-certified counterparts. If you extend that over the course of a person’s career it’s easy to see that an investment of a couple thousand dollars (once you factor in the continuing education requirements) will yield hundreds of thousands of dollars over a person’s working lifetime.

6. What is Involved in Keeping Your PMP Certification Current? One thing about PMP Certification like other certifications is that you need to renew it every 3 years. During this three year period you need to earn 60 PDUs (professional development units) that show that you have been keeping up with the latest in project management tools, technology and thinking. You can earn these PDUs by attending education events, PMI meetings, or obtaining them through Registered Education Providers (REPs) with courses targeted toward specific areas of interest. PDUs are not hard to keep up with…as long as you keep up with them. If you just get 2 PDUs per month you’ll have more than enough PDUs at the end of the certification cycle. Unfortunately, what many have done about PMP Certification is leave everything until the last minute and they find themselves scrambling to keep their PMP Certification up-to-date.

7. When is PMP Certification Important? PMP Certification is important all the time. However, there are times when it comes more to the forefront than other times. Some of these times are when you are looking for a job, your potential employer may want to know whether you are PMP Certified or not. Or, if you own your own company, the clients you work with may feel an extra level of comfort and confidence knowing that you have cared enough to keep your PMP Certification current. Plus, having a PMP Certification may be the deciding factor on whether you are chosen for a promotion over the next person. There’s a lot to know about PMP Certification, but if you find the right study group or mentor, you will find yourself navigating through the certification waters with the greatest ease.

Is PMP Certification Good for Your Project Management Career? My initial reason for pursuing my PMP Project Management Certification was that this piece of paper seemed important for my career. At the very least it differentiated me from those that did not have their PMP project management certification. It put me in a category of certified professionals that immediately established a certain amount of credibility. I couldn’t imagine going to a doctor that didn’t have Ph.D. or MD after their name. PMP after my name as a project manager seemed to fall into the same category. I’m glad to say the initial reasons for pursuing my project management certification were realized. But, I was also pleasantly surprised to experience the following benefits as well:

It Serves as a Filtering Mechanism for Project Hiring Decisions Do you have any idea how many resumes hiring managers receive when they post a job for a project manager? My experience is that potentially hundreds will be emailed, which soon becomes overwhelming.

Where do many hiring managers start? They divide the stack of resumes into two piles…those who have a PMP Project Management certification and those who don’t. Arguably, there are good candidates in the non-PMP certified pile that are overlooked. But, hiring managers have to start somewhere and this is usually the most logical place to begin. Use this to your advantage as a person who has their PMP project management certification. Make sure you include the PMP designation after your name, how long you have been certified, which paths of earning PDUs you have pursued (for example, risk management, communication) and even include your PMP certification number. Don’t think that potential employers won’t look up your name on the PMI register. Unfortunately, there are a handful of less than scrupulous people that will claim they are a PMP when they are not. Employers have learned to verify the legitimacy of potential employee’s certification.

It Affords You a Higher Salary There have been many salary surveys conducted regarding what project managers can earn. One of the most notable is the salary survey conducted by PMI.org every couple of years. The most recent survey is based upon 2011 numbers and shows on average that a PMP certified project manager will earn approximately $10,000 more per year than their non-PMP certified counterpart. That adds up to a lot of money over a working career. A PMP project management certification is worth the time, cost and energy on a financial basis alone. One thing to note…if you are a PMP Project Manager and not making what the averages are in the survey for your region you need to do something about it. You can take this information to your current employer and show them the numbers. They may be able to make an adjustment to bring you more in line with recent salaries. Or you may decide to start looking elsewhere. If you are a non-PMP Project Manager and would like to earn more money, then you will want to start going down the path toward PMP certification. ProjectManager.com © 2013 All Rights Reserved

Out of the Gate Respect PMP certification means something. It means you have thousands of hours of experience behind you, have passed a rigorous exam and keep your certification current each year with new and ongoing learning. When you are in the position of working with a brand new team or a different company and you have ‘PMP’ after your name, there is a certain amount of credibility established out of the gate. The assumption is that this person knows what they are doing as opposed to a person that doesn’t have a clue. Now, it’s up to you to prove or disprove this initial reaction; but having PMP after your name will take you a long way in establishing out of the gate credibility.

Common Language with Project Peers Another benefit that comes from obtaining your PMP project management certification is the ability to instantly communicate with your peers and colleagues. For example, let’s say you start a new job as a project manager in a PMO. One of the appealing factors of joining this new company was that the majority of the project managers were PMP-certified. This included the PMO Director. You knew this meant they understood the same processes, phases and vocabulary that you understood. Even though the learning curve may be somewhat steep when it came to the company technology, you knew that you wouldn’t have to worry about how projects were executed.

Confidence Builder Another benefit of obtaining your PMP project management certification is that it builds confidence. In which way? You may have been a project manager for some time prior to obtaining your PMP certification. You tried different things and discovered what ProjectManager.com © 2013 All Rights Reserved

worked and what didn’t. But, you weren’t 100% confident that this would be considered “industry standard”. Plus, you didn’t have anything to back up your position if a question came up. PMP certification validated the way that you were doing things in many areas was exactly the right way. You found that there were improvements you could make in other areas. And, you found a wealth of new information that made your professionalism as a project manager that much more substantiated.

6 Reasons to Pursue Certification in Project Management The requirements for certification in project management can seem overwhelming to the average project manager. The requirements include a relatively large number of onthe-job project management hours, hours of formal training and contact with PMP educators, and hours of study spent reading books and completing coursework to prepare for the exam. The exam is a challenge unto itself. Preparation for the exam could take months of very disciplined and focused independent study, or time spent with evening and weekend study groups. There are the additional costs of the exam and study materials, ranging anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars depending upon the path you choose. Jumping through all of these hoops may seem oppressive when you are on this side of certification in project management. That’s why many feel that certification in project management is their Holy Grail.

Motivation for Certification in Project Management You need some form of motivation in order to obtain your certification in project management. There’s a lot of work, sacrifice, and expense that is necessary in order to earn your certification, and having an end game or goal to shoot for will get you through these challenges. The following are some motivators that have helped others over these hurdles: 

More Money: Earning a certification in

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project management is all about investing in yourself. There is a certain amount of risk and uncertainty that accompanies any investment of your money, but you should expect a certain return on that investment, in that the amount of interest you earn is commensurate with the amount of risk and uncertainty you are willing to undertake. It is similar with certification in project management. You are going to stretch yourself into areas that are outside of your comfort zone. You are going to spend time studying and preparing that could be spent elsewhere. You are going to spend money on training and exam fees that could be used for something else. Is the payoff worth it? Yes. On average, a project manager with PMP certification will earn approximately $10,000 more per year than a non-certified project manager. This is a significant motivator to stay committed to those sacrifices. Opportunity for Promotion: When someone plots out a career path for themselves at their company, they learn that certification in project management is needed in order to get where they want to go. For example, you may have your eyes on the position of PMO Director, but the role requires PMP certification. You’ve been a successful project manager for a number of years in your company, but upward mobility will be impossible without that certification. The potential for career development then becomes a great motivator to pursue the Holy Grail of project management certification. Your Company Requires Certification: Another motivation for earning your certification in project management is when it is required by your company. Here’s the scenario: you currently don’t have a project management certification, but are a perfectly competent and capable project manager. It Helps You Get a New Job: Someone may be disgruntled in their current position. They look around to see what the market for project managers looks like, and finds there are plenty of project management positions available with just one stipulation… “PMP Preferred.”This requirement is mentioned in every job description. You know you are a great project manager, but you currently don’t have your certification. You know you can do the job, but you also know your resume won’t even be considered until you have the PMP initials after your name. At the very least, certification will allow you to make it through a hiring manager’s first round of filters. You Want More Initials After Your Name: Some people in today’s workforce are focused on adding as many initials and credentials after their name as possible. The more the better; as soon as they pass the test for one certification they are on to the ProjectManager.com © 2013 All Rights Reserved

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next. It becomes a way of life and keeps them motivated. One benefit to continual training is that it elicits feelings of confidence and establishes your credibility out of the gate. You Want to Learn Something: A final motivator for many people to pursue their certification in project management is learning itself. They may be struggling with certain issues at their place of employment and certification holds many of the solutions. They may like the mental challenge and stimulation of continuing education, so take the opportunity each year to keep their mind and skills sharp.

Preparing for the Project Management Professional Exam Project management requires a high level of dedication and determination, focus and sacrifice to reach your goals. This is especially true if you are preparing to take the PMP (Project Management Professional) Exam. To just sit for the exam you need to have a four-year degree and 4,500 hours leading and directing projects or 7,500 hours leading and directing projects if you do not have a four-year degree. That’s a lot of time that has been dedicated to mastering the art of project management! To help you make the most of the time invested here are some suggestions for PMP exam success.

Read the PMBOK Yes, unfortunately there is no way around reading the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK). The reading is very dry and devoid of real-life examples. There are no pictures other than charts and graphs and other technical illustrations. But, it is what the exam is based upon and something you will have to get behind you. When you read through the PMBOK you will come across areas and scenarios that will make you pause and say “that’s not how things get done around here”. You are probably right if you have been in project management for a number of years. The PMBOK lays out the best case scenario that would take place in a perfect world. The world in which we perform project management is far from perfect. You will have to ‘unlearn’ how certain things get done around your place and learn how the PMBOK says they should get done for your PMP Preparation. The questions on the exam are based upon best case, not your place.

Read Supplementary Information Another important part of PMP Preparation is to read supplementary information. There are volumes upon volumes of other books that you can read to help you study for the PMP exam in addition to the PMBOK. These are extremely helpful because they bring the PMBOK to life. They will provide examples on how some of the concepts in the PMBOK will be applied in the real world. They provide shortcuts and memorization techniques that can help you remember the most important formulas, processes, techniques, inputs, and outputs.

Study Groups You may benefit from PMP Preparation by taking advantage of a study group. Study groups are great for a number of reasons. First, they generally will have material and resources that have been compiled over the years. These tried and true resources can make PMP Preparation much easier. Also, for those who may not be quite as disciplined when it comes to studying, the regular schedule and face-to-face meetings make sure that you don’t get behind on your studying. Where can you find these PMP exam study groups? One place to start is with your local PMI Chapter. They will be able to point you in the right direction for study groups that meet close to your work or home.

Sample Tests This is one of the best things you can do for PMP Preparation. It’s important to get an idea of the types of questions that will be asked early on in the study process. The PMP Exam questions have a tendency of putting in a lot of extra information that really has nothing to do with the answer. It’s up to you to weed out what is relevant and what is not relevant. Also, taking sample tests will give you an idea of how close the answers may be to each other when it comes to the one that is right and the one that is wrong. It can be just a simple thing that makes one answer right and one answer wrong.

Take the sample tests early and often for your PMP Preparation. Make sure you are not being asked the same questions or get into the situation of memorizing the answers and not thinking through them. The purpose of taking the sample test is to understand how the exam will be structured and provide you with the ability to hone your thought process to get to the right answer. Aim for a consistently ProjectManager.com © 2013 All Rights Reserved

high score of 85% – 90% on the PMP sample test and you’ll have plenty of leeway when it comes to taking the real exam.

Audio Courses Another helpful and time saving tool for PMP Preparation is to listen to audio courses. There are courses that are broken down by each chapter of the PMBOK that talk you through the concepts and give you examples of how the questions will be asked on the exam. These are excellent to listen to while you are driving to work or traveling by plane to visit clients. Use these early on in the process of your PMP preparation study. You may zone in and out while you are driving or get to thinking about other things, but over time the material you are studying will soak in and you’ll benefit more than you would think.

Study Up on Taking Tests Go back to your high school days and think about how you were trained to take tests in school. The process of elimination works for the PMP exam just like it did when you took multiple choice tests in school. There’s going to be 1 or 2 answers that are clearly not correct. This will allow you to focus on picking the right one out of the answers remaining. Also, your first answer is typically the right answer. Don’t second guess yourself. Finally, if you do get stuck on a question, you can mark it and come back to it later. Don’t get so bogged down on one question that you put the rest of the exam at risk. A helpful thing to do during your PMP Preparation is to memorize the formulas. Once you get ready to take the exam, write them down immediately on the paper you are provided. This will be one less thing you have to worry about and allow you to focus on the rest of the exam. PMP Preparation takes a lot of work. It requires effort, persistence, and dedication to successfully pass the PMP exam. But, you’ll find the outcome is worth the effort you put into as you excel in your project management career. You will validate what you already know, learn new skills, and ultimately make more money as you move forward in your career.

3 Ways to Lose Money on Your Project Management Certification The following are a number of ways you can lose money on your project management certification program and what you can do to prevent this from happening:

1. Let it Lapse There are ongoing education requirements to keep your project management certification current. These are typically not onerous, nor costly, to complete. The biggest challenge is to find the time necessary to take ongoing project management training and develop a good schedule so you are not scrambling at the last minute. Many will find themselves in the situation of getting behind and let their certification lapse. There are usually time extensions available to allow for recovery in a short-period of time but this usually comes at a premium price and plays havoc on people’s already busy schedules. Unfortunately what some will do is throw away the time and money they have invested and find themselves having to start from scratch all over again. A better solution? Certification time periods usually range over a number of years. Break down the requirements to a monthly basis with bite-size certification chunks and you’ll find yourself in a much better certification (and financial) position at the end of that time period.

2. Hide It Now that you have this shiny new certification, you should be telling the world about it. Some choose to not tell a soul! They don’t include their certification designation after their name in the email signatures, or update their LinkedIn profile, or have a new set of business cards printed with their designation. Could you imagine going to a doctor that didn’t have M.D. or Ph.D. or other designation after their name? Of course not. These are professional certifications that mean they have not only spent the time necessary to obtain their professional designation in the first place but have ProjectManager.com © 2013 All Rights Reserved

remained current over the years. It gives you the level of confidence you need to know that they will take care of your medical needs. The same principle holds true with a project management certification. Having this designation after your name brings with it a level of confidence in your project management experience and skill set right out of the gate. Include this designation wherever your name is found. This can range from PowerPoint presentations, Agendas, business cards, email signatures, resumes, social media accounts, etc. There’s no need to view it as being self-promoting, but rather your way of branding yourself and letting others know that their project is in good hands.

3. Discount It Some may reason that “it’s just a project management certification. It’s not like I’m a doctor or anything”. True. But, there is real value to holding a project management certification. We’ve already discussed the financial upside of holding a certification. There is also the “opportunity” upside that holding a certification provides. When Hiring Managers put the word out they are looking for a Project Manager, they will many times get hundreds of resumes in response to their request. Hundreds of resumes with 34 pages each can quickly add up to 1,000 or more pages to sift through. Where to start? Most hiring managers will apply a filter to their search that starts with “find anyone that has a project management certification after their name”. You need to be in a position to take advantage of this filtering opportunity and find yourself in the right stack of resumes. If you don’t think your certification is important, or let it lapse, or hide it…then you will quickly find yourself overlooked. Who knows, this new position could have added another $10,000-$15,000 to your annual salary of which you will not be able to benefit. The ROI you receive on your project management certification investment goes beyond just money and opportunity. There is also much to be said to keeping up to date with the latest and greatest in project management skills, technology, thinking, and best practices. The way project managers operate today is VERY different than how they operated just five years ago. New development methodologies, communication ProjectManager.com © 2013 All Rights Reserved

vehicles, and project management resources are available now that were unheard of just a few years ago. The ongoing education requirements necessary to keep your project management certification current will keep you abreast of these changes. Nobody likes to lose money on their financial investments. You should feel the same way about your investment in project management course. Treat your certification as the asset it is and keep it current, tell others about, and appreciate its value.

Why PMP Certification is Not Hard to Maintain It’s an unfortunate and all too common occurrence that some PMPs will wait until the very last month or even week before their certification is up for renewal. They then realize they need to get 60 PDUs in a remarkably short period of time. This brings an inordinate amount of stress, late nights, time away from family members, and can even impact your work performance. You need to clearly establish in your mind that this is a serious part of your professional development that you are committed to making happen.

Why PMP Certification Maintenance is Important Let’s start with the discomfort you will encounter if your PMP Certification lapses. If you find yourself at the end of three years and have not met the minimum requirements, your certification will go into Suspended Status. This means you can no longer claim you are a PMP until the overdue requirements are met within a maximum of one year of the certification expiration date. This also means you are already behind for the next cycle because the next renewal date does not move. The worst case scenario is that you lose your certification altogether. Not only can you no longer claim you are a PMP, you will need to reapply for the credential, retake the PMP exam and submit the fees associated with the initial credential application. Ouch! On the positive side of things, think about all of the benefits you have received from having your PMP certification: ProjectManager.com © 2013 All Rights Reserved

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You most likely earn more than your non-PMP peers – Salary surveys indicate that a project manager with their PMP certification will earn on average $10,000+ more per year than their non-PMP certified counterpart. You have a viable and sustainable career path to follow – Keeping up with your certification lays out a career path that includes project management, program management, portfolio management, and a number of specialties and areas of expertise in between. You have stayed on the leading edge of the Project Management profession – The courses, education, networking, webinars, and seminars you attend to keep up with your PDUs all pay off in the long run. You will find yourself well-versed in the latest technologies, thought processes, and new ways of getting things done that you can implement into your current projects.

Why risk losing all of this when all you need is less than 2 PDUs per month?

Turning Events into Opportunities Rather than becoming overcome by events, take these events and turn them into opportunities for earning PDUs. There may be an assumption you can only earn PDUs at PMI sponsored events or meetings. Not so. PDUs are broken down into five different categories that can quickly add up to 60 PDUs. Below are some examples of how people with different circumstances can take advantage of these different activities. 

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The Worker – Your job as a Project Manager keeps you at the office 24/7. You can claim up to 5 PDUs per year for being a practitioner of project and/or program management services. Tack onto this another 5 per year for coaching/mentoring sessions with your colleagues or coworkers and you are 50% of the way there without even leaving the office. The Traveler – You spend more time in the air than you do on the ground. If you like to write, consider earning PDUs for authoring an article that is published about project management and earn anywhere from 10-30 PDUs. Complete the remaining PDUs by listening to courses on your MP3 player on the flight to your destination. The Parent – It’s important to you to be home and spend time with the family on nights and weekends. There may be volunteer activities you are engaged in as a family that can help you earn PDUs. Non-compensated Project Management ProjectManager.com © 2013 All Rights Reserved

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services provided to a community or charitable group can earn up to 5 PDUs per year. The Person In-Between Jobs – The downside of this scenario is that you may be unemployed. The upside, however, is that you do have plenty of time to focus on earning your PDUs. Since finances may be tight during this time of your life you don’t necessarily have to spend a lot of money to keep up with your PDUs. Similar to The Parent above, you can volunteer your time to various project management organizations or functions that require project management experience and stock up on PDUs that way.

It doesn’t take long to get to 60 PDUs with a little creativity and discipline – which brings us to one more type of person we should consider…The Procrastinator. The bottom line is that there is no excuse for putting it off to the last minute just because we didn’t get around to it. It goes against every instinct we have as Project Managers to put something off to the last minute. If you find yourself in this situation, put a project plan together and stick to it until the Recertification Project is complete.

How to Earn PDUs Being a project manager is a constant journey to learn new skills and techniques. That isn’t a bad thing – as the way we work evolves, it is very useful to keep your skills up to date. If you are a Project Management Professional (PMP)® then you will already be used to studying. Getting your PMP credential can be hard work, especially if it has been a while since you prepared for any exams. However, once you have passed, and can use those letters after your name with pride, the studying doesn’t stop. You have to keep your skills up through the professional development program put together by the Project Management Institute.

What is the Continuous Professional Development Scheme? In a bid to keep us all highly skilled and to prove that we do know what we are doing at work, PMI have come up with a scheme for their certified project managers. You have to show that you have earned 60 Professional Development Units (PDUs) over a 3 year period. Once 3 years has passed, you have to submit your portfolio of evidence to PMI ProjectManager.com © 2013 All Rights Reserved

and if they acknowledge that you have met the requirements, you get to keep those letters after your name. Getting PDUs takes a bit of effort and organization on your part, because you don’t want to be 6 months away from having to recertify and find that you have a mad rush to try to get in enough study or other activity to qualify. It is obviously better if you can spread out your recertification activities over the 3 years, and what better way to do it than as part of your day job? Here are some ways to learn (and collect PDUs) while you work.

Ways to Learn While You Work 

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Doing your day job: Assuming that you work as a project manager, you can claim your day job towards your PDU total. Yes, you get credit just for having a job in the right field! You don’t even have to work full-time. As long as you can clock up 6 months project management experience in a 12 month period, you can earn up to 5 PDUs a year simply by turning up to work. If you are asked to supply evidence of this you can use your job description or a contract to demonstrate that you were in relevant employment during this time. Training: If your company sends you on any project management training courses during the 3 year recertification period, this also counts. Even if the project management training company is not recognized as an ‘official’ provider of training under the PMI Registered Education Providers scheme you can still get PDU credit. This can be particularly handy if you are starting to use new project management software tools and are attending training or a webinar provided by the vendor. If you are learning something new, even if the training is delivered by someone from your Project Management Office (PMO) or another internal person, that also counts. You can claim one PDU for each hour that you are in a training course. If you have to provide evidence, you can send copies of the registration form or letter/certificate of attendance and a course outline showing what the training covered. Writing for the company magazine: You can also claim PDUs for writing articles for your company magazine or blog. Provided that it is an official company outlet, you can earn one PDU for every hour spent on this. It does have to be project ProjectManager.com © 2013 All Rights Reserved

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management related, though, so the best opportunities are writing for your PMO or departmental newsletter, which has an audience destined to be interested in what you say about project management. Failing that, an article about your latest project for the company blog, or a day in the life of a project manager, or an article about a particular project management technique that is relevant to other groups, such as how to do risk management… There are lots of topics that you could write about and earn PDUs. Mentoring someone: Mentoring counts as volunteering. If you are part of your company’s mentoring scheme, then you can earn PDUs from mentoring a junior project manager or another colleague. If there is no formal mentoring scheme but you have informally been allocated as a buddy to that person, it still counts. You do have to make sure that your sessions are focused (not just social chats over a cup of tea) and that they include information relevant to project management, using ‘knowledgeable’ resources. We take it to mean that means journals, magazines, your own experience and reputable websites. Keep a record of the dates and times of sessions and ideally get your mentee to sign an attendance sheet so that you can prove the discussions took place. You can claim one PDU per mentoring hour. Being mentored: What if you are a project manager who doesn’t have the experience to mentor someone else? Being mentored also counts towards your PDU total for recertification. This is classified as self-directed learning and you can claim one PDU per hour up to a total of 10 per year. Being mentored or coached by someone can take many forms. For example, you might sit with a more experienced project manager to prepare for an audit. You could seek advice formally from a colleague in relation to preparing your project budget. You could study with a coworker for a project management exam or to brush up on some other technique. There are probably dozens of examples of times where you have sought help that would count as self-directed learning. Record them all and you’ll soon be earning PDUs while you do your day job!

Given everything that you can do towards earning PDUs as part of your day job, you’ll soon find that you make significant progress towards achieving those 60 credits over a 3 year period. Make the most of the opportunities open to you as part of your normal day ProjectManager.com © 2013 All Rights Reserved

to day routine. This will reduce your need to find other ways to earn those PDUs and will also make sure that you can spread out your recertification requirements. It is also much cheaper to claim as many PDUs as you can through work instead of having to fund expensive activities yourself simply to make up your PDU total as the deadline approaches. Do yourself a favor and plan now to avoid a desperate bid to earn enough just before your recertification deadline approaches!

What is PMP Code of Professional Conduct? The Hippocratic Oath is one of the oldest binding documents in history, dating back to the 4th century BC. It captures the essence of beliefs held sacred by doctors: treat the sick to the best of one’s ability, preserve patient privacy, teach the secrets of medicine to the next generation and “do no harm.” Nearly 100% of US medical schools administer some form of the oath today, and it is the primary code of conduct by which doctors regulate themselves in their professional lives. The Project Management Institute (PMI) has authored a similar code of conduct for project managers, called the PMP Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. Granted, project managers do not deal in the realm of life and death as do physicians, but they still must make many judgment calls and decisions on a daily basis. Those decisions, often ethical or moral in nature, are what PMI’s Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct attempts to address.

How is the PMP Code of Conduct Learned? PMI’s Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct is a six-page document that can be downloaded from PMI’s website. The first couple of paragraphs outline the purpose of the code as follows: The purpose of this Code is to instill confidence in the project management profession and to help an individual become a better practitioner. We do this by establishing a profession-wide understanding of appropriate behavior. We believe that the credibility and reputation of the project management profession is shaped by the collective conduct of individual ProjectManager.com © 2013 All Rights Reserved

practitioners. The code addresses four main areas that a project manager must be aligned with in order to maintain PMP certification, and those are detailed below. There are questions on the certification exam related to the professional code of conduct. Additionally, a PMP needs to agree to abide by this code of conduct upon issuance and subsequent renewal of their PMP certification.

6 Ways to Maximize Your Project Management PMP Certification Hopefully, you realize that your project management PMP certification is an asset that can grow in value over time. This value is realized in the amount of salary you earn which is directly tied into the decisions you have made to optimize your project management PMP certification. Apply these suggestions to make sure you are getting the largest return on your investment possible.

Keep Your Eyes on Project Management Salaries Let’s face it…the world is one big marketplace. People are buying and selling things all the time. This includes your talent as a PMP certified project manager. At the most basic level, you are nothing more than a service that someone needs to buy in order to get the job done. You may be horrified when you hear this, yet what does a company do when it can no longer afford your services along with your project management PMP certification? They let you go. It’s the way business works and we all understand the rules. So, since we all understand the rules, there are times when the market will pay for project management PMP services and other times when they will not pay as much. I know PMP certified project managers who at one point in time, (not too long ago) would work for half of what they are making now. It’s up to you to keep your eyes on the marketplace and see what people are willing to pay for your services. A great place to start is the Salary Survey at PMI.org. This report is put out every couple of years and provides a good description of the services rendered (also known as job descriptions) and low, average and high salaries for various regions of the world. This is ProjectManager.com © 2013 All Rights Reserved

a great place to start if you need some leverage to have a conversation with your current employer or are looking to make a change.

Have the Guts to Make a Move You probably started out with a savings account when you were a teenager that earned next to nothing when it came to interest on your money. The older you got, the more you realized you needed to make some changes when it came to where your money was residing. You moved your financial assets into CDs, mutual funds, stocks, bonds, and other investments. Then, you kept moving them around these financial vehicles because the market conditions were always changing. Guess what? You need to do the same with your project management PMP certification. In line with “keep your eyes on project management salaries” (above), you may need to move around a bit to maximize your PMP certification. Here’s a phenomenon you may want to consider. When you leave one job to take another job for a 20% increase in salary, do you know more on the day you start the new job than the day you left the old job? Probably not. What changed? Your job! You had the guts necessary to move from one position to the next and maximize your project management PMP Certification!

Project Management Niche Career Development You need to earn 60 PDUs every three years to keep your PMP status current. There are a number of people who will go PDU chasing and collect anything and everything that’s out there to earn their 60 PDUs. Their first question is “how many PDUs do I earn?”. Don’t do this! Your first question should be “what will I learn?” You must have an educational path you’re following when it comes to maximizing your project management PMP Certification. We all know that specialists in the medical field make more than generalists. Look at your insurance card. Your primary care Doctor is paid [x] and your Specialist is paid [x] plus 25%-50%. Become a project management specialist. Take courses that take you down the path of a risk specialist, scheduling specialist, procurement specialist or whatever other project management discipline you find intriguing. ProjectManager.com © 2013 All Rights Reserved

Take Advantage of PMP Networking Opportunities In order to maximize your project management PMP certification you need to go out of your way to make this happen. Most people will begin networking when they need a job…try networking when you don’t need a job. Network with others to share project management best practices. Network with others to see what you can do to help someone else. Network with others to just form a relationship. Volunteer on committees and look for pro bono opportunities where your experience can be shared and benefit others.

Mentor Others I had the opportunity of having a mentor who helped me earn my PMP certification. It was a great time in my professional life. We would meet every couple of weeks and review the progress I had made. We would plan out the next couple of weeks, identify resources, answer questions and work toward the goal of passing the PMP test. I loved it. My mentor loved it too. It gave her the opportunity to keep up with her skills, keep herself challenged, and share that feeling of pride when I passed my PMP exam. You can do the same thing by helping others pass their PMP exam. Use your project management PMP certification as a springboard to help others move forward in their PMP careers.

Tell Others You Are PMP Certified You have spent a great deal of time and effort to achieve your project management PMP certification. Don’t hide it. You don’t have to be obnoxious and tell anyone and everyone you see that you are a PMP Project Manager, yet there are things you can do to gently remind everyone of your achievement. Make sure to include the PMP certification after your name on your business card. Include the PMP certification after your name on your default email address. Include your certification in presentations you give. Why? Because people will view you differently when they realize you have your project management PMP certification. Just like there’s a difference between a bookkeeper and a CPA, there’s a difference between a project manager and a PMP certified Project Manager. Subtly and consistently, highlight the fact that you have achieved this status and you will go far in your career.

What is PMP Code of Professional Conduct? The PMP code of conduct attempts to capture principles we live by in our personal lives and apply them to the realm of our profession. The four main principles are Responsibility, Respect, Fairness, and Honesty. Let’s talk about each of these in further detail along with examples of how they can apply to professional conduct. 

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Responsibility: According to the PMI Code of Ethics, “Responsibility is our duty to take ownership for the decisions we make or fail to make, the actions we take or fail to take and the consequences that result.” Respect: According to the PMI Code of Ethics, “Respect is our duty to show a high regard for ourselves, others, and the resources entrusted to us. Resources entrusted to us may include people, money, reputation, the safety of others, and natural or environmental resources. An environment of respect engenders trust, confidence, and performance excellence by fostering mutual cooperation — an environment where diverse perspectives and views are encouraged and valued.”In other words, we treat others the way we want to be treated. Fairness: According to the PMI Code of Ethics, “Fairness is our duty to make decisions and act impartially and objectively. Our conduct must be free from competing self interest, prejudice, and favoritism.”Let’s focus in on the self-interest or conflict of interest aspect of fairness when it comes to what is PMP professional conduct. Honesty: According to PMI’s Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, “Honesty is our duty to understand the truth and act in a truthful manner both in our communications and in our conduct.”We’re all familiar with the concept of honesty, and how one little white lie can result in a tangled web of deceit. Most people try to stay away from telling an outright lie; however, they may reason to themselves that it’s okay to leave certain relevant details out of a conversation. When a decision is made that is different than what would have been made if all of the information had been available, then the error of omission flies in the face of the PMI Code of Ethics. ProjectManager.com © 2013 All Rights Reserved

PMI’s Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct is really quite simple to understand. Run your projects, relationships, and professional life with responsibility, respect, fairness, and honesty. Keeping these four principles in the forefront will ensure you “do no harm” to any of your projects!

5 Reasons Why You Should Finish Strong as a PMP Why is it important to finish strong? Why is it important to not just throw in the towel if you know you aren’t going to meet your objectives 100%? Why is it important to keep pushing on to the best of your ability as a PMP?

80% is better than 50% Yep, pretty basic math. But, the truth is that 80% is better than 50%, 90% is better than 60%, and even 20% is better than 0%.We all have goals that we are working on and circumstances may get in the way of moving forward as fast as we would like. But, rather than stopping dead in our tracks as a PMP it is better to push forward and at least accomplish something. Something is better than nothing. This principle applies toward anything, including setting high goals. You’ll hear people scoff when stretch goals are set for the team to accomplish. “We’ll never be able to get that much done in this amount of time”, or “We’ll never reach that Sales figure. Are they crazy?” Not really. A general direction has been set and one that will get everyone going on the same path. The team that is working together to finish strong will get much more done than just the team that is working together.

Trying is Better than Quitting Don’t quit. Look at different ways, methods, and options you can use in order to get as far as you can toward meeting your goals.

Your Fortitude is Increased Pushing on despite adversity or less than ideal circumstances makes you a stronger PMP project manager. Others (both on and off your team) will watch how you deal with adversity and follow your example. Someone needs to be at the front leading the way when the times get rough. Every challenge you successfully push through as a PMP project manager adds one more arrow to your quiver of project management successes. The next time you are faced with a similar situation you will know exactly what needs to be done in order to get through it.

Separates the Wheat from the Chaff Your attitude as a PMP project manager means everything. We all know and have worked with people that have negative and pessimistic attitudes. What a drag. It’s important for us to continue to do whatever it takes to make whatever situation we are in that much better. There’s always room for improvement and you are in an ideal place as a PMP project manager to make that happen!

Using Your PMP Training to Influence Others There are two types of power that can be exerted over others. They are: 

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Given Authority: This is the power conferred upon a project manager or person when they assume a particular title or position within the organization. It is primarily centered on the ability to reward and/or punish direct reports. Earned Authority: Earned authority is the power gained through a person’s words, actions, or who they are and what they stand for. People will voluntarily and readily submit to this type of power out of respect for the person’s leadership.

PMP training helps us appreciate that earned authority is, by far, the best type of authority to possess. You can’t mandate that someone MUST have respect for another person. It is something that is earned and as a result is much more effective than given authority. Given authority will produce the desired effect of people doing what you ask. However, the result may be marginal in nature. For example, people typically will do just enough ProjectManager.com © 2013 All Rights Reserved

to get by for the purpose of either earning a reward or escaping negative consequences. PMP training highlights the fact that this is not the best attitude to cultivate in the organization.

Using Your PMP Training to Influence Others PMP training takes the many different aspects of leadership and applies them to a process that will enable you to influence others in a positive way. The following are steps you can take as part of that process: 

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Determine the Authority You Currently Possess: Take an honest inventory of the type of authority you possess in the organization and with those around you. Is your authority relegated to positional or given? Do people do what you ask because they HAVE to, or because they WANT to? Determine the Authority Others Possess: PMP training teaches that project managers do not operate in a vacuum, that there are other people in the organization with authority and influence over the same resources you need to influence. Determine where you fit in this unwritten hierarchical structure and be realistic about the amount of influence you can exert. For example, it is not likely that you will override a request from a VP who is directly responsible for funding a resource’s project team over the year. Deeply Understand the Benefits of Your Project: You need to understand what the benefits are of the project you are managing to both the organization and the person you need to influence. Clearly articulate those benefits when you meet with the individual and/or the team, so that they see your requests in light of what’s good for the organization and ultimately themselves. Market Yourself…a Little Bit: One prerequisite of earned authority is that people understand who you are and what you stand for. You must talk about yourself from time to time. Discuss an experience you’ve been through, decisions you’ve made, your PMP training or other clues that will open the door for the other person to understand who you are as an individual. One word of caution…don’t market yourself too much. Talking about yourself ALL the time will give everyone a different perception of you and ultimately backfire. Get to Know Your Resources Strengths (and Weaknesses): While you are marketing yourself (a little), take some time to find out more about those you need to influence on your project. What are their strengths? What do they enjoy doing? What are they ProjectManager.com © 2013 All Rights Reserved

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good at? What do they hate doing? This information will help you place them in the best possible position to maximize their strengths and shore up their weaknesses. Know What You are Talking About: Preparation for this step actually needs to occur earlier in the process, but now is the time it will come into play. You must have credibility in the eyes of the beholder in order to lead, guide, and direct them. People won’t follow if they feel you don’t have a clue. Provide Constructive Feedback as Necessary: You will find yourself in a position of trust if you have successfully implemented the above steps. A resource that understands that you have their best interest at heart will be more apt to listen to your constructive feedback. They will appreciate the fact that your motive is to make them better and help them grow professionally.

Apply the above steps and you’ll find that the PMP training you went through will increase your ability to get things done. Your earned authority will transcend your given authority, putting you well on your way to influencing more people positively throughout your career!

The Spirit of PMP Project Management 1. Don’t Get Caught Up in a Checklist Mentality Just because a task is on a list that states that it needs to be done at a certain time, on a certain day or in a certain way doesn’t mean that it is locked in stone. All projects are living, breathing entities that ebb and flow like the tide. If you are not aware of this fact, you will push (the good) people on your team away and become relegated to nothing more than a list-checker and not a solver of business problems. The reality is that things will never go as planned. It’s not that there is always a problem, either. Opportunities present themselves, economies of scale can be taken advantage of, or new technologies become available. Rather than unwittingly marching forward ProjectManager.com © 2013 All Rights Reserved

oblivious to these things, always ask if what is next on your list is still relevant and meaningful based upon the changing circumstances and priorities. Working on the RIGHT thing is much more important than just blindly moving ahead and working on the NEXT thing.

2. Give Your Star Performers Some Space There are two schools of thought when it comes to the equal treatment of un-equals. Some feels that everyone must be treated exactly the same way, at all times, with no consideration of past performance, period. Others feel there is nothing more unequal than the equal treatment of un-equals. I subscribe to the latter. If you have performers on your team who have a track record of success…leave them alone. Don’t poke them with a stick. Let them use their judgment, discretion, insight, experience and wisdom to make the right decision at the right time and give them 100% support. Otherwise, these are going to be the first people that start looking for other opportunities outside of your team.

3. Focus on the End Rather than the Means The front-line of any project can be ugly. Dates get missed, misunderstandings arise, feelings may get hurt and sometimes people lose their jobs. The front-line of any project can also be beautiful. Breakthroughs are made, friendships are forged, deliverables are inspired and there’s the sense of pride and accomplishment when the team reflects back on a job well done. Rather than get caught up on all the details that occur on the front-line, get comfortable with the fact these things happen (the good and the bad) and it’s part of the process. All of this jostling and activity result in innovation and completion…which ultimately means the end of the project. We’re not saying that the end justifies any means whatsoever to get there, but rather that everything doesn’t have to be buttoned up with a neat little bow around it to move forward either.

4. Keep the Lines of Communication Open “Real” communication has unfortunately taken a back seat to pseudo-communication that is fraught with sound bites and inaccuracies. Instant messages, text messages, one word…or even one letter answers, are now customary and expected. Picking up the phone or having a real face to face conversation can put an entirely new spin on PMP project management.

The Spirit of Project Management Moving into the PMP Project Management arena by obtaining your Project Management Professional Certification is no small feat and something you should feel good about. However, don’t miss the spirit of being a PMP Project Management professional and unwittingly relegate yourself to becoming just a checker of lists. The spirit of being a PMP Project Manager is about getting the right things done at the right time, solving business problems and bringing value to the organizations that are fortunate enough to have you on board. Many people are drawn to PMP Project Management because they like the structure and organization it brings to a day. There is a certain predictability of what to expect and usually a clear next step to follow. This gives us a warm and fuzzy feeling. Truly enlightened Project Managers also realize that it is hard for breakthroughs and innovation to occur in such a structured and rigid environment. They have been able to departmentalize they way they do their work by being very structured and regimented on one side of their brain, while at the same time allowing room for chaos, uncertainty, and a bit of creativity on the other side. Just remember to not get so caught up in the rules and regulations of project management that you can’t see the forest for the trees. The result will be a project team that respects you and projects that are delivered!

Instilling a Sense of Urgency as a Project Management PMP Deal with the Issue Up Front It doesn’t take too many of the pre-deployment weeks described above before you get tired of those long days and late nights. Address this topic up front with your team before you even start the next project. You could do this a couple of different ways… One way would be to incorporate this topic into your Lessons Learned session. Or, if it has gotten to the point where it’s a HUGE problem you could have a separate and specific meeting to deal with just the topic of staying on top of the work that needs to get done. This is a great time to muster up your best project management PMP voice and say, “Look, here’s the story…none of us enjoy the last minute fire-drill that we seem to inflict upon ourselves at the end of each project. What is it that we can do to make sure that doesn’t happen the next time around?” It won’t be a surprise that everyone else hates the fire-drills as much as you do. Get their ideas out on the whiteboard and then implement them immediately on the next project.

Create Mini-Fire Drills There’s eternity in view when you start each project as a project management PMP. You may have a glorious 4 or 6 months ahead of you before the project is expected to be complete. That feels like forever! How could that be a problem to get the project done in that amount of time? Trust me, it will be a problem if you don’t instill that sense of urgency. Rather than look at the project as needing to be complete 6 months from now, look at it that the Requirements phase needs to be complete 30 days from ProjectManager.com © 2013 All Rights Reserved

now…and guess what? You’re already late! Every day counts at this point and you need to rustle up every one of your project management PMP skills to make this happen. Keep everyone focused on the 30 day deadline and don’t let it slip.

Freak Out and Melt Down When Necessary You need to set the tenor for your team as a project management PMP about how serious you are about not getting behind. You need to make it clear that there is no room for “we have plenty of time” or “what could possibly go wrong” in anyone’s vocabulary. Pounce on anyone that utters these words and keep them focused on the task at hand.

Review Why Things Worked Dealing with the urgency issue up front, creating mini-fire drills, and professionally freaking out when necessary will ensure your projects stay on track. Reflect on these experiences on your next lessons learned or ad hoc meetings that are called to specifically discuss the issue of urgency. Reflect on the fact that the worst thing that could possibly happen by maintaining a sense of urgency from the get-go of a project is that you all may end up a bit ahead of schedule. You can guarantee them that there is nothing you have ever read as a project management PMP that discouraged you from finishing early. Once you’ve finished the project and put it on the shelf is the time to relax. Up until that point is the time that you need to keep the pedal to the metal and instill a sense of urgency in everything you do. Doing so will allow you to make it to the week of deployment knowing that you did things right, and prevent you from having to do them over.

30 Day Free Software Trial There are two key differences between ProjectManager.com and its competitors. The first is that we give you all of the features you need to plan, track and report on projects efficiently. The second key difference is that our competitors charge a high upfront price as well as annual maintenance fees for new releases. Here at ProjectManager.com we offer you all of the features you need to manage projects, at a small monthly price of just $25 per user. That simple! When you sign up to ProjectManager.com, you also get for free: Unlimited Projects 3 Gigs of Document Storage Client Login Free Upgrade to New Releases

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Take a Free Trial Create your own Projects Sign up to boost your project success Any questions? Email support@ProjectManager.com and one of our friendly support staff will be happy to help. We also recommend a visit our resource library if you would like access to further:project management tips video tutorials project management templates