As a project professional, you need to know how to make your projects fairer because the individuals you are working with care about fairness.... read more.
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If you plan to update your membership, book an event or access APM Learning, APM Community or use other resources, please do this outside of these dates.
The 15 November Chartered Project Professional submission date is unaffected.
Thank you for your patience.
What is working professionally?
Definition
Professionalism is a demonstrable awareness and the application of expert and specialised knowledge within a specific field and the acceptance of standards relating to that profession application of competences and qualities, including knowledge, and appropriate skills.
Definition from APM Body of Knowledge 7th edition
Project professionals must be equipped with excellent interpersonal skills such as communication, leadership and empowerment. Good interpersonal skills not only enable professionalism in the workplace, but they are a vital condition for project success.
Over 95 per cent of survey respondents in the Dynamic Conditions of Project Success research consider interpersonal skills one of the most important factors for project success.
Find out more about the conditions that enhance project outcomes here.
Working professionally
Some of these skills include the ability to communicate; a core skill for people working in projects, programmes and portfolios to ensure objectives and requirements are understood, plans and benefits are shared, stakeholders are aligned, teams are motivated and knowledge is embedded.
There are many situations in project-based working where ‘deals’ need to be made – from agreeing the release of a functional expert to support the project, to negotiating large contracts with suppliers and everything in between.
Negotiation is a vital skill that project and programme managers utilise during the project life cycle. Another key skill for any project professional is the ability to manage personal time and prioritise work, balancing what is most important with what is most urgent using an electronic diary or calendar, etc.
Working professionally also involves continually developing competence; project professionals seek knowledge and skills through continuing professional development (CPD). CPD is vital for project professionals to keep up to date and enhance their own competence over time, and to advance the standing of the profession and the trust that society puts into the ability for project based working to deliver value.
Project professionals also have a duty to act ethically and report any wrong doing. All project-based work operates within a legal and regulatory framework relevant to the industry and countries where the work is performed. The the project professional is responsible for understanding the regulatory environment so that they can work professionally. The APM FIVE Dimensions of Professionalism provides a framework to set standards and guide the development of project professionals.
Watch: What is a conflict of interest?
Watch: Successful project communication
Related reading
Every project has goals and to achieve these goals there are a range of factors that must be taken into consideration... read more.
So what do people actually do on projects, and in particular do they collaborate with each other? If they do collaborate how has this come about?... read more.
I was 16 and wanted to be an architect. I remember answering the questions so that my perfect job was suggested. Of course, the fact I am writing this article means I never made it as an architect... read more.
Everyone would agree that getting the communication right is one of the keys to project success. I wonder if everyone would also agree that communication is a specialist skill and as such should be the role of a professional communicator... read more.
A number of studies have been conducted into the development of project management. Taken together, they describe the challenges and opportunities of attempting to institutionalise project management as a singular academic discipline... read more.
APM Body of Knowledge 7th edition
The APM Body of Knowledge 7th edition is a foundational resource providing the concepts, functions and activities that make up professional project management. It reflects the developing profession, recognising project-based working at all levels, and across all sectors for influencers, decision makers, project professionals and their teams.
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