How can networking help you improve your Software Project Management skills?

In modern times, networking with people already in the field will assist to exchange ideas, strategies, problems, and so on. It also creates a platform for useful talks for individual improvement as well as for our project management skills.

Project Management is a specialized skill and also a role in the project. the project manager need to interact with various stakeholders i.e. different cross functional teams. Hence it is important to have good network to iron out minor teething issues considering stake holder's perspectives.

In today's rapidly evolving technological landscape, networking enables managers to get insights from their peers regarding the most recent developments, tools and latest trend of an industry.  PMs can also learn from their peer's experiences and the challenges encountered when overseeing large projects for example cloud migrations or modernization projects.  These insights are then integrated into project planning, execution, and risk mitigation. Effective collaboration fostered through networking creates opportunities for both individual and organization.

Für mich bedeutet einen Mentor zu finden, jemand zu haben der seine Erfahrung nutzt um einem zu Helfen. Die wertvollsten Momente sind dabei die, in denen jemand mit einer einzigen Frage einen selbst extrem zum Nachdenken anregt und dadurch einem selbst hilft noch besser zu werden. Ich kann jedem nur Raten sich Mentoren zu suchen und diese Erfahrung aufzusaugen und zu nutzen.

Mentoring is a great way to learn from the experience of a more experienced software project manager. A mentor can provide you with guidance and support, and help you to develop your skills. For example: You are working on your first major software project, and you are feeling a bit overwhelmed. You reach out to a more experienced project manager and ask them to be your mentor. They agree, and you meet with them regularly to discuss your project and get their advice.

Na minha experiência, os casos mais bem sucedidos de mentoria são aqueles em que encontramos mentores "no caminho". Nós nos identificamos e começamos o processo de mentoria informalmente. Foram experiências muito enriquecedoras e importantes na minha carreira. Assim, a mentoria não precisa ser formal apenas útil.

Gerade als Produktmanager ist Feedback von Nutzern & Kunden essenziell wichtig. Nur mit Kundenfeedback lässt sich das "perfekte" Produkt entwickeln. Mir persönlich hilft dabei immer das "Job to be Done" Framework um herauszufinden was Kunden und Nutzer wirklich wollen von dem Produkt welches man selbst entwickelt bzw. verbessern möchte.

Getting feedback from other software project managers can help you to identify your strengths and weaknesses, and to learn from your mistakes. You can also get feedback on your project management skills and strategies. For example: You are leading a team of software engineers on a new project. You are unsure about how to best manage the project, so you reach out to other project managers for feedback. They share their thoughts on your project management plan and give you some suggestions on how to improve it.

Feedback from your network can be invaluable for continuous improvement and achieving project success. However, when seeking feedback from individuals outside your organization, it's crucial to be mindful of privacy and confidentiality. One way to do this is by Establishing Clear Boundaries. Clearly define the scope of information you are willing to share and the purpose of seeking feedback. Doing this beforehand can help you avoid discussing sensitive financial data, proprietary technologies, or customer-specific details. Remember, feedback is a valuable tool for growth, but it's essential to balance seeking insights with protecting sensitive information when the network is outside your organisation.

Networking with other software project managers can help you to create new opportunities for yourself. You may learn about new job openings, or you may be able to collaborate on new projects. For example: You are attending a software conference, and you meet a recruiter from a company that you are interested in working for. You exchange contact information and stay in touch. A few months later, the recruiter contacts you about a job opening that is a good fit for your skills and experience.

Networking is not just about accumulating contacts; it's about establishing genuine connections with individuals who can help shape. It opens doors to opportunities, broadens perspectives, and provides invaluable insights

Project management is a vast subject that hugely involves collaboration as mantra with all its stakeholders to achieve success. An effective project manager collaborates well by networking with not just project stakeholders but also will he peers and industry SME to learn best practices and improvements to contribute to his project which eventually benefits the organisation and end client. Value addition happens when a project manager or lead takes all feedback and inputs from different stakeholders and especially networking / collaboration strongly drives this factor.

Global perspectives are also important. Connecting with professionals from different parts of the world can provide you with a new or challenged perspective on software project management, helping you adapt to international projects, localisation, new ways of working and diverse teams.

It’s the multiplier effect at play, first you need to understand the basics of project management, and then have a check-in with your peers , and ex-colleagues, whoever you have access to, on the practices they follow. It’s not purely ‘science’, and that’s where you will appreciate these inputs from other experienced practitioners.