Welcome to our weekly newsletter!

08 December 2024

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Hey friend,

Have you tried Substack? I've been spending some time on there lately. The community seems to be supportive. I'm excited to engage with some PM's there. Join in if you like reading longer form articles and notes.

Some Thoughts

A few days ago I was working on our new course teaching you how to become a remote project manager. I came across a video on app design and how designers use random rewards to spike dopamine. You know how suddenly you get shown a flurry of likes on your latest Instagram post? These random rewards are addicting to the brain. I thought about how we do rewards for our project teams. Instead of giving rewards on a schedule, space them out in what seems random. It will work much better that way.

What you will learn this week:

☀️ Skill diversification versus focusing on a niche

🌍 The importance of practical experience

🍄 How to use AI for automation

New Ways to Keep Improving as a Professional Project Manager

It can be difficult to keep improving when you are a full-time project manager. Your days are busy and there are more deadlines than you can count. Companies are not always supportive of their staff taking extended time off to learn. But you know deep down that if you are to move up, you need to learn new things. You feel that if you know more, you will be more valuable and able to earn more. While common strategies like taking courses and seeking feedback are essential, there are several niche ways to enhance your skills and stay ahead in your career. Here are some unique strategies to consider:

1. Microlearning

Project managers often juggle multiple tasks, making time a precious commodity. Microlearning breaks down your learning into small batches spread throughout your week:

• Micro-courses: Enroll in short, specialized courses on platforms like Coursera or Udemy to gain targeted knowledge quickly. You may spend as little as 10min per day on these. Some courses offer official certificates upon completion while others are less formal.
• Podcasts and Webinars: Regularly listen to industry-specific podcasts and attend webinars to stay updated with the latest trends and insights.

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You might enjoy this:

Postscript

I'm thinking of my goals for 2025. I'd like to focus on a maximum of five. Covering career, health, family and hobbies. What are your goals for the new year?

Until next time,

Jonathan (The Effective Project Manager)

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