One of the most profound impacts of disruptive technologies is the need to upskill your workforce to meet the needs of the future. Not even project management will be left unaffected by the likes of digitization and artificial intelligence. As value is delivered through projects, there has never been a better time to be in the field of project management; provided we can fill the gap between needed skills and our ability. Here are the 10 key skills necessary for tomorrow’s project managers.

1. JAMI ANDERSON
November 29, 2018
BUILDING THE
FUTURE OF PM

2. PMI (2017). Project Management Job Growth and Talent Gap Report // 2017-2027
FUTURE IS LOOKING BRIGHT FOR PROJECT MANAGERS

3. PMI (2017). Job Growth and Talent Gap in Project Management
52%
of executives expect the most
profound impact of disruptive
technologies to be upskilling and
training current employees.

4. 31%IT / Digital Transformation
Gartner (2018). CEO Priorities Shifting to Embrace Digital Business
04
05
02
01
03
28%
23%
33%
40%Growth
Corporate
Strategy, Partnerships and Mergers
Workforce
Customer
CORPORATE PRIORITIES ARE SHIFTING IN 2019
Financial 15%
Product Improvements 15%
Management 13%
Sales 10%
Cost Management 9%
Efficiency and Productivity 9%

5. of Brightline Initiative survey respondents
believe an organization’s project
management capability is essential for
strategy implementation success.
Forbes Insights (2018). The C-Suite Outlook: How Disruptive
Technologies are Redefining the Role of Project Management
90%

6. 76%of CEO’s are concerned about the lack of
digital skills within their own workforce.
PwC (2018). Key findings on talent, PwC’s 21st CEO Survey:
The Anxious Optimist in the Corner Office
DO YOU HAVE THE CAPABILITIES REQUIRED FOR THE FUTURE?

7. NEW SKILLS FOR THE DIGITAL PROJECT MANAGER
PMI has recently added a Digital
Layer over the top of their Talent
Triangle in recognition of the
growing skill need.
PMI (2018). The Project Manager of the Future: Developing Digital-Age
Project Management Skills to Thrive In Disruptive Times.
Data Science
Legal and Regulatory
Compliance Knowledge
Innovative Mindset
Data-Driven
Decision Making
Security and
Privacy Knowledge
Collaborative
Leadership Skills

8. FEAR OF BEING REPLACED BY A BOT: VALID OR NOT?

9. “Analytics can prepare managers for the
inevitable changes … that can send teams
off course; but equally important is mastering
the skills of people management, as this is
where the reach of analytical methods end.”
Scott Burt, Telent Technology Services
Raconteur (2018). Future of Project Management:
PMOs turn to analytics to optimize performance

10. THE MOUNTING EXPECTATIONS FOR PROJECT MANAGERS
An outstanding PM displays orchestration,
persuasion, empathy, anticipation and
customer, or end-user, focus.
Peter Ballard, Foolproof
Raconteur (2018). Future of Project Management

11. Today’s project manager is no longer responsible for simply
getting the job done, but also for achieving business results
and inspiring and motivating the team.

12. KEY SKILLS
FOR
TODAY’S
PROJECT
MANAGER

13. COLLABORATIVE
LEADERSHIP
Teams-based organization models, and the rise of the gig
economy require a move from pure leadership to strategic
orchestration.
1

14. HUMAN CENTERED
DESIGN
Realignment of the traditional operational excellence model
(with strategy focused on return on investment) to a customer
focused business model, requires an ability to design solutions with
the end user in mind, as well as any social and environmental factors.2

15. DATA SCIENCE /
VISUALIZATION
Accurate performance measurement to facilitate effective
decision making, combined with an overwhelming barrage of
information necessitates new thinking on both the art and
science of data for consumption.
3

16. BENEFITS
REALIZATION
While we hear all the time about strategic value and outcomes,
according to PMI, only one third of organizations report a high
maturity in benefits realization, requiring a relentless focus on
what value is actually being delivered to the customer.
4

17. PERSUASIVE
COMMUNICATION
The need to communicate has only risen in the last few years,
however the style of communication still needs to evolve.
One first must secure attention and then you can begin to
communicate something of value, personalized to each recipient.
5

18. AGENT FOR
FAST CHANGE
Not only an agent for change, but an agent for constant
change. Today’s challenge is on overcoming the resistance,
whether due to fear, fatigue or other, to deliver immediate
value, before our audience moves on to the next big thing.
6

19. INNOVATOR
MINDSET
The constant release of new technology requires an ability to
learn, keep up and fail fast with technology, but more
importantly understand how to connect and apply disparate
pieces of tech in building more valuable solutions.
7

20. METHOD
MIXOLOGY
Where delivery management could move from project to task to
portfolio, one must have a strong understanding of the entire spectrum
of approaches, whether predictive, iterative, hybrid or whatever comes
next, in order to intelligently mix the right fit for the client.
8

21. VORACIOUS
ASSIMILATION
Both with the pace of new technology introductions and new
corporate ventures, one must have both extreme curiosity and a
hunger for knowledge, combined with the ability to quickly “Borg-
like” come up to speed. Resistance is futile.
9

22. SENSE OF
HUMOR
Okay maybe not a skill, but definitely a requirement.
With all there is to do, one needs some way to relieve stress.
I find jokes, even bad ones, most welcome.10

23. 10 KEY SKILLS FOR TOMORROW’S
PROJECT MANAGER AGENT FOR
FAST CHANGE
Not only an agent for change, but an agent for
constant change. Today’s challenge is on
overcoming the resistance, whether due to fear,
fatigue or other, to deliver immediate value, before
our audience moves on to the next big thing.
INNOVATOR
MINDSET
The constant release of new technology requires
an ability to learn, keep up and fail fast with
technology, but more importantly understand how
to connect and apply disparate pieces of tech in
building more valuable solutions.
PERSUASIVE
COMMUNICATION
The need to communicate has only risen in the last few years, however
the style of communication still needs to evolve. One first must secure
attention and then you can begin to communicate something of value,
personalized to each recipient.
DATA SCIENCE /
VISUALIZATION
Accurate performance measurement to facilitate
effective decision making, combined with an
overwhelming barrage of information
necessitates new thinking on both the art and
science of data for consumption.
BENEFITS
REALIZATION
While we hear all the time about strategic value
and outcomes, according to PMI, only one third of
organizations report a high maturity in benefits
realization, requiring a relentless focus on what
value is actually being delivered to the customer.
METHOD
MIXOLOGY
Where delivery management could
move from project to task to portfolio,
one must have a strong understanding
of the entire spectrum of approaches,
whether predictive, iterative, hybrid or
whatever comes next, in order to
intelligently mix the right fit for the client.
SENSE OF
HUMOR
Okay maybe not a skill, but definitely a
requirement. With all there is to do, one
needs some way to relieve stress. I find
jokes, even bad ones, most welcome.
COLLABORATIVE
LEADERSHIP
Teams-based organization models, and the rise
of the gig economy require a move from pure
leadership to more strategic orchestration.
HUMAN CENTERED
DESIGN
Realignment of the traditional operational excellence model (with
strategy focused on return on investment) to a customer focused
business model, requires an ability to design solutions with the end
user in mind, as well as any social and environmental factors.
VORACIOUS
ASSIMILATION
With pace of new technology introductions
and new projects, one must have both
extreme curiosity and a hunger for
knowledge, combined with the ability to
quickly “Borg-like” come up to speed.

24. IN
CONC
LUSIO
N

25. BRING ON THE BOTS – THERE’S ENOUGH WORK FOR ALL

26. If you are someone that likes getting things done, and actively
seeks out learning opportunities, i.e. embarking on a journey
of continuous improvement, then PM is the life for you.

27. What are your goals for
continuous improvement in 2019?
?

28. 1340 Eisenhower Place
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
(734) 741-7770
www.pcubed.com
CONTACT US